Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Barre vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Warren has the most kids (20.8% 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.
| Measure | North Brookfield | Barre | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760Lowest |
5,572Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| North Brookfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63 44% below MA |
$1,030±$713Highest 42% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Barre and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Brookfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield and Barre 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Quabbin Regional High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.