Compare towns
Barre vs Hatfield vs Williamsburg vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.
| Measure | Barre | Hatfield | Williamsburg | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
3,325 |
2,694Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Williamsburg 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Barre 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 30% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Hatfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Hatfield | Williamsburg | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Smith Academy | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
6.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.