What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	North Brookfield
People
Population	5,572Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% 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%	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%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Lowest 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	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
	Barre and North Brookfield 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	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
	Barre and North Brookfield 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	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield 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%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.3%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 minLowest 24% above MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Brookfield and Barre 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	North Brookfield
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.