Compare towns
Barre vs Millis vs Upton 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 the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Millis | Upton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
8,888 |
8,189 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Townsend 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Upton 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% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Millis and Upton 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 |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Millis and Townsend 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Millis High School | Blackstone Valley | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
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.