What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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	Lenox
People
Population	5,572Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Barre and Lenox 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%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Lenox 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	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average
	Barre and Lenox 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	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA
	Lenox 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	$1,091±$238Highest 38% below MA
	Lenox and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 14% below MA	$5,299Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox 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%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Lenox
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	7.6Lowest
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.