Cost of Living in Barre, MA

Population 5,535 · Massachusetts · Data vintage 2023

104

Cost Index
(100 = US avg)

Page updated: April 2026 · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year

Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Barre is a smaller Massachusetts community of around 6000 residents, where median household incomes of $95,607 and housing costs ($329,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape.

Located 20 miles northwest of Worcester, Barre falls within that metro's commuting orbit. Housing prices track closely with Worcester's $340,000 median.

Cost Overview

Housing 108

Rent 97

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Barre

The median home value in Barre is $329,300 — 8% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,272/month, 3% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $95,607/year is 28% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, below the national average of 4.8%. Massachusetts's top state income tax rate is 9.0% and the combined sales tax is 6.3%. The climate averages highs of 59.3°F and lows of 37.2°F. Overall, Barre has a cost of living index of 104 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 4% more expensive.

📍

Barre has limited residential data

Detailed housing and income data is limited for this location. Here are the nearest cities with full cost of living data:

Gardner, MA

Median home: $271,300

Rent: $1,071/mo

Income: $62,948

Ware, MA

Median home: $269,400

Rent: $1,049/mo

Income: $69,666

Spencer, MA

Median home: $368,300

Rent: $1,085/mo

Income: $79,086

Holden, MA

Median home: $433,300

Rent: $1,484/mo

Income: $142,880

Leicester, MA

Median home: $377,800

Rent: $1,211/mo

Income: $95,776

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value

$329,300

8% above avg

Median Rent

$1,272/mo

3% below avg

Price-to-Rent Ratio

21.6x

Favors renting

Property Tax Rate

1.2%

Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio

$1,429

1 BR

$1,438

2 BR

$1,854

3 BR

$2,265

4 BR

$2,493

Owner-occupied 73.4%

Renter-occupied 26.6%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent

$1,272

Groceries national estimate

$400

Utilities local estimate

$88

Transportation local gas prices

$126

Estimated Total $1,886/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚

Eggs (dozen)

$0.548

🍞

White Bread (lb)

$1.912

🥩

Ground Beef (lb)

$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute

37.9 min

40% above avg

Gas Price

$3.145/gal

0% below avg

Work From Home

8.9%

Commute Mode

Drove alone

70.1%

Carpooled

12.8%

Public transit

3.7%

Walked

1.8%

Work from home

8.9%

⚡ Utilities

Electricity

$0.176/kWh

0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 9.0%

Total Sales Tax 6.3%

State rate 6.3%

Avg local rate 0.0%

Property Tax 1.2%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income

$95,607

28% above avg

Per Capita Income

$38,276

Unemployment Rate

4.1%

14% below avg

Poverty Rate

16.6%

Labor Force Participation

53.7%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 15.5%

Graduate degree 15.9%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 38.7

Male median age 35

Female median age 42.5

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High

59.3°F

Avg Low

37.2°F

Annual Precip

42.2"

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	33	37	45	59	70	79	84	82	74	62	50	39
Low °F	14	15	24	34	46	55	60	59	51	39	30	21
Precip"	2.71	2.34	3.38	3.44	3.24	4.14	3.76	3.87	4.29	4.22	3.37	3.40

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 39 — Good

73.4%

Good air days/yr

148

Max AQI recorded

170

PM2.5 days

190

Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

87%

4-Year Graduation Rate

15.1:1

Student-teacher ratio

Public schools

2,148

Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Barre, MA?

Barre has a cost index of 104 (100 = national average). It is 4% above the national average.

What is average rent in Barre, MA?

The median gross rent in Barre is $1,272 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Barre?

The median home value in Barre is $329,300 according to 2023 Census ACS data.

What is the median income in Barre?

The median household income in Barre is $95,607 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Barre, MA?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Barre is 6.3%. The Massachusetts state income tax top rate is 9.0%.

Is Barre, MA affordable?

Barre is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 104 (100 = US average).

What is the weather like in Barre?

Barre has average high temperatures of 59.3°F and average lows of 37.2°F. Annual precipitation is 42.2". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Barre at a Glance

Population: 5,535
Median Income: $95,607
Home Value: $329,300
Median Rent: $1,272/mo
Unemployment: 4.1%
Avg High Temp: 59.3°F
Sales Tax: 6.3%

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