What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	5,572Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
	Barre and Lowell 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%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Barre 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%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Lowell 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%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA
	Lowell 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	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA
	Lowell 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	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Lowell 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	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Lowell
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.8Highest
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.