What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

Barre has the most expensive 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Griswold	Barre
People
Population	11,530Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Griswold and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Griswold and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barre and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Griswold and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,628Lowest 48% above U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Griswold and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Griswold 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	#118 of 149 in CT	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Griswold School District	Quabbin
High school in town	Griswold High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	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.