What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Townsend
People
Population	5,572Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Barre and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest 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±$13kLowest 4% above 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±$55kLowest 30% 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	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 24% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Townsend 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	North Middlesex
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.