Compare towns
Barre vs Orange vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
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 | Orange | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
7,573Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Barre and Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Warren 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Highest 42% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$890±$174 49% below MA |
| Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Orange and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Warren 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
10.0 |
| 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.