Compare towns
Barre vs Plainfield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
616Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainfield and Barre 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| 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 30% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| 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 14% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Plainfield 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 |
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.