Compare towns
Barre vs Douglas vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Douglas | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,207Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Douglas and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Douglas and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Brookfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and North Brookfield 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Douglas | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Douglas High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.2 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.