Compare towns
Barre vs Norfolk 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
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Norfolk | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
11,673Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield 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% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and North Brookfield 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% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Norfolk 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk 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% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 24% above MA |
36 minLowest 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | King Philip · Millis | 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.