What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most people working from home (11.2%).

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Monroe
People
Population	5,572Highest	122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA
	Monroe 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%	16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monroe and Barre 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%	31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monroe and Barre 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%	19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monroe 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±$13k 4% above MA	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713 42% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$2,053Lowest 66% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Barre and Monroe 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%	38.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 24% above MA	56 minHighest 93% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Monroe 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	—
School district	Quabbin	—
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
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.