Compare towns
Barre vs Townsend vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,100 |
10,048Highest |
| 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±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Barre and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%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% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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±$55k 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Townsend 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 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 |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Barre 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Middlesex | Ware |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.