What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Easthampton
People
Population	5,572Lowest	16,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
	Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton 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 MA: 47.3%	38%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton 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±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA
	Barre and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA
	Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#134 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Easthampton
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.