Compare towns
Thompson vs Barre vs Ware vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Barre | Ware | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
5,572Lowest |
10,048 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Barre and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Stafford and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Ware 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Quabbin | Ware | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.1 |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.