Compare towns
Barre vs Woonsocket vs Townsend vs Hubbardston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Hubbardston has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Woonsocket | Townsend | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
43,521Highest |
9,100 |
4,371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
46.8±9.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hubbardston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$123,500±$24kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston and Townsend 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$371,600±$18k 12% above U.S. |
| 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±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$953±$206Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Woonsocket 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±67.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hubbardston 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hubbardston and Barre 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Middlesex | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Woonsocket High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.1 |
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| 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.