What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monson has the most kids (18.1% under 18).

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	Monson
People
Population	5,572Lowest	8,136Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA
	Monson 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%	18.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Monson 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%	23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Monson 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%	29.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Monson 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±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$96,688±$14kLowest 7% below MA
	Barre and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA
	Barre and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Highest 42% below MA	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA
	Barre and Monson 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	$4,877Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±13.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Monson 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%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	34 minLowest 18% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Monson 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	#235 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Monson
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Monson High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	8.2Lowest
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.