Compare towns
Barre vs Thompson vs Ware
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 expensive homes ($394k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,337 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Barre and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.