Compare towns
Windham vs Barre vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Windham | Barre | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
5,572Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Barre and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | — | Quabbin | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.