Compare towns
Barre vs Ogunquit vs North Brookfield vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Ogunquit | North Brookfield | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
1,379Lowest |
4,760 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ogunquit 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±$32kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
— | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% 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% 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. |
1976 4 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. |
37 min 41% 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% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 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.