What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monson has the most kids (18.1% under 18).

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Monson	Barre
People
Population	8,136Highest	5,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±3.2Highest 20% above MA	43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA
	Monson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Monson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Monson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Monson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,688±$14kLowest 7% below MA	$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA
	Barre and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,400±$15kLowest 38% below MA	$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA
	Barre and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$871±$215Lowest 51% below MA	$1,030±$713Highest 42% below MA
	Barre and Monson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,877Lowest 19% below MA	$5,163Highest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±13.3Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Monson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	10.7%±7.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Barre and Monson 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	#235 of 282 in MA	#134 of 282 in MA
School district	Monson	Quabbin
High school in town	Monson High School	Quabbin Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.2Lowest	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.