Compare towns
Barre vs Spencer vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Spencer | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
12,008Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Spencer 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Spencer 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 4% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| 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 30% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| 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 42% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | David Prouty High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.