Compare towns
Barre vs Fairhaven vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Hubbardston has the most homeowners (93.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barre | Fairhaven | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
15,903Highest |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hubbardston and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
33.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$123,500±$24kHighest 19% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,118±$79Highest 37% below MA |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,716 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hubbardston and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hubbardston and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Fairhaven | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.