Compare towns
Blackstone vs Saugus 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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Saugus | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
28,773Highest |
5,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Saugus and Barre 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 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% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Barre and Saugus 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 |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Saugus | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Saugus High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
15.5Highest |
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.