Compare towns

Barre 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).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
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.

MeasureBarreTyringhamBlackstone
People
Population
5,572
494Lowest
9,255Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5
9% above MA
59.2±2.7Highest
48% above MA
43.2±1.7Lowest
8% above MA
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.4
MA: 19.4%
8.7%±5.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Blackstone and Barre 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%
35.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.6%Lowest
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%
3.6%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Barre and Tyringham 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
$163,333±$28kHighest
57% above MA
$94,191±$21kLowest
9% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55kLowest
30% below MA
$699,400±$96kHighest
24% above MA
$404,400±$34k
28% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713Lowest
42% below MA
$1,050±$393
40% below MA
$1,189±$85Highest
33% below MA
Blackstone and Tyringham 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
$4,632Lowest
23% below MA
$5,703Highest
5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
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
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1967Lowest
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
36 min
23% above MA
34 minLowest
16% above MA
Work from home
11.2%±4.6Lowest
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 — #207 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin — Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School — Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Lowest
—
13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.