Compare towns

Barre vs Ogunquit vs Townsend

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 affordable homes ($394k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.

MeasureBarreOgunquitTownsend
People
Population
5,572
1,379Lowest
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5
13% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Barre 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
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
33% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55kLowest
19% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
—
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163
66% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Barre 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
37% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #134 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

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.