Compare towns
Unity vs Barre vs Claremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Claremont has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Unity | Barre | Claremont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
5,572 |
13,078Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
42.6±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Claremont and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$59,096±$8kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Barre and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$204,600±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,146±$83 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,774Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Claremont and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Unity 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 | #103 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Quabbin | Claremont School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Stevens High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.