Compare towns
Barre vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
8,517 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn 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% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Barre and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Barre and Brooklyn 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. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brooklyn and Barre 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Brooklyn 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.