Compare towns
Barre vs Lawrence vs Everett vs Rutland
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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Lawrence has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Rutland has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
88,736Highest |
50,045 |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Barre and Rutland 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%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Lawrence 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Rutland 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Rutland 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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 |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,078±$170 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,657Highest 6% 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% |
47.8%±26.7 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% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer 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 27% 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% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lawrence | Everett | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Lawrence High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.