What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Hull has the most people working from home (19.7%).

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	Hull
People
Population	5,572Lowest	10,138Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Hull 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%	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hull 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%	50.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA	$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA
	Hull 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±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA	$6,089Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hull 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%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	33 minLowest 14% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hull 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	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Hull
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	8.8Lowest
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.