Compare towns
Barre vs Thompson vs Sutton 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 the youngest population (median age 43.8).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Thompson | Sutton | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
9,337 |
9,452Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,176 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Sutton | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.9 |
12.6 |
5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.