What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Warren	Barre
People
Population	5,009Lowest	5,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Warren and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA
	Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA	$1,030±$713Highest 42% below MA
	Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,530Lowest 24% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Barre and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Warren 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	#165 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Quaboag Regional	Quabbin
High school in town	Quaboag Regional High	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.