What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Barre
People
Population	9,100Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	36 minLowest 24% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Quabbin
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.