What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

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

Measure	Barre	Plainfield
People
Population	5,572Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Barre and Plainfield 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%	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barre and Plainfield 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%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S.
	Plainfield 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.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Plainfield 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	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Quabbin	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.3Lowest
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.