Compare towns
Barre vs Petersham vs Blackstone
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%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% 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.
| Measure | Barre | Petersham | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,185Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Petersham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Petersham and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Petersham 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Petersham | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.