Compare towns
Barre vs Townsend vs Tyringham vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Blackstone has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Townsend | Tyringham | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,100 |
494Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Tyringham 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±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,050±$393 40% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Townsend and Blackstone 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,632Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Blackstone 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 | — | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Middlesex | — | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | — | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.1 |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.