What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Ipswich
People
Population	5,572Lowest	13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich 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 MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich 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 MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Ipswich 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 4% above MA	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA
	Ipswich and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich 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 MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ipswich 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	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Ipswich
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.