What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Everett	Barre
People
Population	50,045Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA
	Barre and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 20% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Everett 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	#264 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Quabbin
High school in town	Everett High	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	12.9Highest
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.