Compare towns
Barre vs Townsend vs Upton vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Upton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,100 |
8,189 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest 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 |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Upton 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%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 |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.