Compare towns
Barre vs Guildhall vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Guildhall has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Barre | Guildhall | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
371Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barre and Guildhall 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% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall 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% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Townsend 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. |
$115,000±$46k 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 27% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,625Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.