Compare towns
Pelham vs Barre vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Pelham | Barre | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
5,572Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Pelham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Pelham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | Quabbin | New Salem-Wendell |
| 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 |
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.