What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Ossipee
People
Population	5,572Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
	Ossipee 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 U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.	$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Barre and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average
	Barre and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Barre 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.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	33 minLowest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Ossipee 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	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Quabbin	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.