Compare towns

Barre vs Mendon vs Windsor Locks vs Hubbardston

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 most renters (24.2% rent).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hubbardston has the most homeowners (93.5%).

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.

MeasureBarreMendonWindsor LocksHubbardston
People
Population
5,572
6,325
12,579Highest
4,371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5
13% above U.S.
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.8±9.1Highest
20% above U.S.
Hubbardston and Mendon 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%
22.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±4
U.S.: 22%
Mendon and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±5.6
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hubbardston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mendon and Windsor Locks 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
33% above U.S.
$132,256±$33kHighest
64% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$123,500±$24k
53% above U.S.
Mendon 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
19% above U.S.
$616,000±$37kHighest
85% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$371,600±$18k
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713
27% below U.S.
$1,840±$196Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$953±$206Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163
66% above U.S.
$7,213Highest
131% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,716
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
78.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±67.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Windsor Locks 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%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
36 min
36% above U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Mendon 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 #210 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #128 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Mendon-Upton Windsor Locks School District Quabbin
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School None in town Windsor Locks High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
8.9Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.