Compare towns
Proctor vs Barre vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Proctor | Barre | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Barre and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Barre and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Proctor 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Quabbin | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.