What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	5,572Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
	Lawrence and Barre 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	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
	Lawrence 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	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence 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%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Lawrence 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	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Lawrence
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.6Highest
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.