Compare towns

Barre vs Leverett 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Leverett has the most people working from home (28.5%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).

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.

MeasureBarreLeverettNorth Brookfield
People
Population
5,572Highest
1,608Lowest
4,760
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±8.5Lowest
9% above MA
56±6.4Highest
40% above MA
45.2±9.4
13% above MA
Leverett and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.4
MA: 19.4%
13.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
North Brookfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19%±5.6
MA: 17.9%
34.8%±4.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.6%
MA: 47.3%
67.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.1%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
Barre and North Brookfield 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
$104,688±$18k
about the MA average
$79,285±$11kLowest
24% below MA
Barre and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,300±$55k
30% below MA
$435,500±$35kHighest
23% below MA
$359,100±$32kLowest
36% below MA
Leverett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,030±$713
42% below MA
$1,389±$135Highest
21% below MA
$981±$63Lowest
44% below MA
Leverett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163
14% below MA
$6,779Highest
13% above MA
$4,176Lowest
30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±27.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
73.3%±6.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±15.8
MA: 51.8%
Leverett and North Brookfield 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%
10%
MA: 10%
12.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.8%
MA: 62.5%
87.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
24% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
37 minHighest
28% above MA
Work from home
11.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.1%±4.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #134 of 282 in MA — #270 of 282 in MA
School district Quabbin Leverett North Brookfield
High school in town Quabbin Regional High School None in town North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.