Compare towns
Barre vs Reading 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 highest household income ($108k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
699Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Barre and Blackstone 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.