What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).

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	Glocester	Barre
People
Population	10,221Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S.	$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S.	$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,248Highest 68% above U.S.	$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Glocester 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	#12 of 38 in RI	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster-Glocester · Glocester	Quabbin
High school in town	Ponaganset High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.