Compare towns
Barre vs Everett vs Townsend 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
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Everett | Townsend | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
50,045Highest |
9,100 |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Townsend 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±$55k 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and North Brookfield 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 20% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Everett | North Middlesex | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Everett High | North Middlesex Regional | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1 |
13.1Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.