Compare towns
Danby vs Barre vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Danby | Barre | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
5,572Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Barre and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wardsboro and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wardsboro and Danby 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Quabbin | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.