Compare towns
Barre vs North Brookfield vs Upton vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Blackstone has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Upton | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
4,760Lowest |
8,189 |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Upton and North Brookfield 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,189±$85Highest 33% below MA |
| Blackstone 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Blackstone 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | North Brookfield High | Blackstone Valley | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
5.5Lowest |
11.2 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.