Compare towns
Barre vs Bow vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Barre | Bow | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
8,335Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| North Brookfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Bow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Brookfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Bow School District | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Bow High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.