Compare towns
Barre vs Halifax vs Whitingham
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 highest household income ($108k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Halifax | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
847Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Whitingham 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. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21k 20% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Barre and Halifax 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. |
$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Halifax School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.