What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	5,572Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5 9% above MA	43.8±2.6 9% above MA
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Barre and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	Northbridge 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±$55kLowest 30% below MA	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA
	Northbridge and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA
	Northbridge and Barre 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	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Northbridge
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.8Lowest
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.