What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).

Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Glocester
People
Population	5,572Lowest	10,221Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S.
	Glocester 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 U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Glocester 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S.	$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Glocester 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 19% above U.S.	$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S.	$5,248Highest 68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Glocester 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	#12 of 38 in RI
School district	Quabbin	Foster-Glocester · Glocester
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Ponaganset High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.