Compare towns
Barre vs Townsend vs Webster
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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,100 |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Townsend 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Barre 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% 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 |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Webster 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 |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Webster 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% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 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 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.