What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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

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.

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

Measure	Blackstone	Barre
People
Population	9,255Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% 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	21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest 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+	31.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
	Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
	Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 5% below MA	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Blackstone 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	#207 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Quabbin
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.