What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	5,572Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA	50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA
	Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Plainfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
	Barre and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA
	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 14% below MA	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 24% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#134 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Quabbin	—
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.