Compare towns
Barre vs Sheldon vs Townsend
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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Sheldon | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,267Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barre and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Townsend 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Townsend 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Townsend 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Barre 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Barre 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 |
| School district | Quabbin | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | 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 |
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.