What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

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	Griswold
People
Population	5,572Lowest	11,530Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.
	Griswold 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%	18.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Griswold and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barre and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.	$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S.
	Griswold and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.	$4,628Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Griswold 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%	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Griswold 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	#118 of 149 in CT
School district	Quabbin	Griswold School District
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.5Lowest
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.