Compare towns
Monroe vs Townsend vs Barnet vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
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 | Monroe | Townsend | Barnet | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,855 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | North Middlesex | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.