Compare towns
Stratton vs Barre vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Stratton | Barre | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
5,572Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 52% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock 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 | — | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.