Compare towns
Barre vs Glocester vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Glocester has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Glocester | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,221Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Glocester and North Brookfield 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Glocester and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and North Brookfield 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 33% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Glocester 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 19% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Glocester 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Glocester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #12 of 38 in RI | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ponaganset High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.