Compare towns
Unity vs Barre vs Jefferson
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 most affordable homes ($276k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Unity | Barre | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
5,572Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barre and Jefferson 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% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Jefferson 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% 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±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Barre and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Barre 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | Unity School District | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | None 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.