What stands out worked out from the figures below

Great Barrington has the most affordable homes ($494k median).

Newburyport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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	Newburyport
People
Population	7,202Lowest	18,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.2Lowest 24% above MA	49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA
	Newburyport 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%	19.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Newburyport 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%	24.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Great Barrington and Newburyport 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%	67%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA	$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$494,300±$61kLowest 12% below MA	$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA	$1,592±$221Highest 10% below MA
	Newburyport and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Lowest about the MA average	$7,944Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8%	46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Great Barrington and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 25% below MA	32 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	23.6%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Newburyport 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	#56 of 282 in MA
School district	Berkshire Hills	Newburyport
High school in town	Monument Mt Regional High	Newburyport High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2Lowest	10.3Highest
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.