Compare towns
Barre vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
14,449Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barre and Pelham 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Barre 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Townsend 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Townsend 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Pelham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Pelham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.4Lowest |
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.