Compare towns
Barre vs Pomfret vs Windsor Locks 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
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Blackstone has the most renters (26.8% 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 | Pomfret | Windsor Locks | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
4,317Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Blackstone 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% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret 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. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Pomfret 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. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Pomfret 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Blackstone 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Pomfret School District | Windsor Locks School District | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.