Compare towns
Barre vs Worcester vs Townsend
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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Worcester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Barre and Townsend 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| 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 30% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| 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±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Worcester and Townsend 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | South High Community | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.