Compare towns
Barre vs Ripton vs Hubbardston
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 most renters (24.2% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hubbardston has the most kids (17.8% 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 | Ripton | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
508Lowest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.8±9.1 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hubbardston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Hubbardston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$123,500±$24kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$371,600±$18kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S. |
— | $953±$206Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±67.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hubbardston and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Hubbardston 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 | — | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.