Compare towns
Barre vs Lawrence vs Everett 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
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Lawrence | Everett | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest 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±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Everett 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lawrence | Everett | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Lawrence High School | Everett High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.6Highest |
12.1 |
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.