What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Ludlow
People
Population	5,572Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA
	Ludlow 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%	16.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ludlow 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%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Ludlow 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 4% above MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
	Barre and Ludlow 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	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA
	Ludlow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ludlow 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%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest 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	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ludlow 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	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Ludlow
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.1Lowest
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.