Compare towns
Barre vs North Brookfield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.
| Measure | Barre | North Brookfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
4,760Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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 |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| North Brookfield and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Brookfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | North Brookfield High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
5.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.