Compare towns
Barre vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Barre and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.