Compare towns
Blackstone vs Sturbridge 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
9,960Highest |
5,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Blackstone 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Blackstone 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
12.9 |
| 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.