Compare towns
Barre vs Otis vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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 | Otis | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
1,624Lowest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Otis 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%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| North Brookfield and Barre 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% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 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 |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Otis 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 30% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Otis and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Otis 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 |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and North Brookfield 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 |
| School district | Quabbin | Farmington River Reg | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.