Compare towns
Barre vs Plainfield vs Townsend vs Blackstone
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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Townsend | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,100 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Barre and Blackstone 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 19% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Plainfield High School | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.3Lowest |
13.1 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.