What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Worcester	Barre
People
Population	207,055Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Worcester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA
	Barre and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
	Worcester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Worcester 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	#266 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Quabbin
High school in town	South High Community	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	12.9Lowest
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.