Compare towns
Barre vs Sheldon vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% rent).
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 | Sheldon | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
2,267Lowest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| North Brookfield 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and North Brookfield 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and North Brookfield 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Brookfield and Barre 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Brookfield and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 |
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.