Compare towns
Barre vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,337 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Barre 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rutland and Barre 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Rutland and Barre 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,657Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.