Compare towns
Barre vs Worcester vs Townsend 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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,100 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%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 |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Barre and Blackstone 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Townsend 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% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Blackstone 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% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$94,191±$21k 9% below 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 |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Townsend and Blackstone 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 |
$1,189±$85 33% 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 |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% 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 |
1967 3 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 |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Middlesex | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | South High Community | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.1 |
13.6 |
| 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.