What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Barre	Athol
People
Population	5,572Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA
	Barre and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Athol and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA
	Athol and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%	16.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Athol 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	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.6Lowest
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.