Compare towns
Rowe vs Barre vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Charlemont has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Rowe | Barre | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 453Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Barre and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Rowe and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Charlemont 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Rowe | Quabbin | Hawlemont |
| 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.