Compare towns
Barre vs Fairhaven vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
15,903Highest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Barre 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% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Barre 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% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Barre 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 |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$462,800±$33kHighest 18% below MA |
| Rutland and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,118±$79Highest 37% below MA |
$1,078±$170 39% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,657Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Fairhaven and Rutland 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% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Fairhaven | Wachusett |
| 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.