What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Clinton	Barre
People
Population	15,563Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Clinton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Clinton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
	Barre and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA
	Barre and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Clinton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,654Lowest 22% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±6.4Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Clinton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Clinton 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	#246 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Clinton	Quabbin
High school in town	Clinton Senior High	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.