Compare towns
Barre vs Brooklyn vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
8,517 |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Barre 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Brooklyn School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.