Compare towns
Danby vs Barre vs Washington
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
5,572Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Danby 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% |
16.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Washington 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. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Barre and Washington 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. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danby and Barre 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.