Compare towns
Barre vs Marion vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hubbardston has the most kids (17.8% 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 | Marion | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
5,310 |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
46.8±9.1 17% above MA |
| Marion and Hubbardston 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% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hubbardston and Marion 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Hubbardston 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% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$123,500±$24k 19% above MA |
| Marion and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,176±$516Highest 33% below MA |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Marion and Barre 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 |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,716Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Hubbardston 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Marion | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.