Compare towns
North Brookfield vs Needham vs Barre
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 affordable homes ($359k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,760Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and North Brookfield 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #270 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Brookfield | Needham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | North Brookfield High | Needham High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 5.5Lowest |
11.9 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.