Compare towns
Barre vs Ogunquit vs North Brookfield vs Monson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% rent).
Monson has the most kids (18.1% 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 | Ogunquit | North Brookfield | Monson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,379Lowest |
4,760 |
8,136Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
47.8±3.2 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monson and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monson and Barre 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 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,688±$14k 20% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 19% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$348,400±$15kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S. |
— | $981±$63 31% below U.S. |
$871±$215Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$4,877 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Brookfield and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | — | #270 of 282 in MA | #235 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Brookfield | Monson |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | North Brookfield High | Monson High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
8.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.