What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

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	Webster	Barre
People
Population	17,748Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Webster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Webster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA
	Barre and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Webster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Webster and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Webster	Quabbin
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	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.