Compare towns

Barre vs Fall River vs Hubbardston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hubbardston has the most people working from home (14%).

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.

MeasureBarreFall RiverHubbardston
People
Population
5,572
94,082Highest
4,371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-1.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5
9% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
46.8±9.1Highest
17% above MA
Hubbardston 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%
19.9%±1.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.8%±4
MA: 19.4%
Fall River and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±5.6
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.5%±4.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Hubbardston 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%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
33.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Barre and Fall River 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
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% 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
$395,500±$11kHighest
30% below MA
$371,600±$18kLowest
34% below MA
Fall River 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
$1,155±$27Highest
34% below MA
$953±$206Lowest
46% below MA
Fall River 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
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$4,716
21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
55.4%±67.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hubbardston and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
36 min
23% above MA
Work from home
11.2%±4.6
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Hubbardston and Barre 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 #262 of 282 in MA #128 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Quabbin
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School B M C Durfee High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
11.3Lowest
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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.