What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Whitingham
People
Population	5,572Highest	1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Whitingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Whitingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S.	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.
	Barre and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.	$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 37% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Whitingham 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	—
School district	Quabbin	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	7.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.