What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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	Everett
People
Population	5,572Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
	Barre and Everett 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%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Barre 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%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Everett 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	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett 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 MA: 10%	14.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	35 minLowest 20% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Everett 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	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Everett
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.1Lowest
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.