Compare towns
Barre vs Ware vs Sutton vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Hubbardston has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Ware | Sutton | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,048Highest |
9,452 |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.8±9.1Highest 17% above MA |
| Hubbardston and Sutton 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Hubbardston 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$123,500±$24k 19% above MA |
| Sutton and Hubbardston 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$371,600±$18k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA |
| Sutton and Ware 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,716 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.4%±67.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Sutton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.6 |
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| 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.