What stands out worked out from the figures below

Great Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).

Housatonic has the most kids (19% 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	Great Barrington	Housatonic
People
Population	7,202Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA	51.8±9.1Highest 30% above MA
	Housatonic and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±8.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Housatonic and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	28.3%±10.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Great Barrington and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,132±$11k 19% below MA	—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA	$437,000±$47kLowest 22% below MA
	Great Barrington and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA	$1,491±$462Highest 15% below MA
	Housatonic and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Highest about the MA average	$4,920Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±33.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Great Barrington and Housatonic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest MA: 10%	16.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	22 minHighest 24% below MA
Work from home	23.6%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	26%±12.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Housatonic and Great Barrington 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	#139 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Berkshire Hills	—
High school in town	Monument Mt Regional High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.