Compare towns
Blackstone vs Hanson vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
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.
| Measure | Blackstone | Hanson | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255Highest |
1,927Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Blackstone 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% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest 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 |
$119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Hanson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| 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 | $5,703 5% below MA |
$6,429Highest 7% above 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Hanson 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 | #149 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 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.