Compare towns
Barre vs Ripton vs Townsend vs Rutland
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Townsend | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
508Lowest |
9,100 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Townsend 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42% 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% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Townsend 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. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,078±$170 24% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Rutland 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Rutland 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.