Compare towns
Reading vs Barre vs Cavendish vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Barre | Cavendish | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,242 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Barre and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Barre and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Reading and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Quabbin | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| 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 | 18 photos → | 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.