Compare towns
Barre vs Townsend vs Worcester vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% 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.
| Measure | Barre | Townsend | Worcester | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,100 |
831Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 33% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.