What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).

Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

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	Dorset
People
Population	5,572Highest	2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Dorset 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%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dorset and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorset 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S.	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average
	Dorset and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#134 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Quabbin	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.