What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the highest household income ($108k).

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% 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	Springfield
People
Population	5,572Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Springfield 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 MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield 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 4% above MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA
	Springfield 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	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield 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%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Springfield
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.2Lowest
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.