Compare towns
Barre vs Sutton vs Ware vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,452 |
10,048Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 4% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Sutton 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±$55k 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Sutton | Ware | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.6 |
11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.