Barre, MA vs Chatham, MA

The cost of living difference between Barre, MA and Chatham, MA is dramatic. Barre is 37.9% cheaper than Chatham, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Barre has a cost index of 120 while Chatham sits at 192, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Barre is $1,906/month compared to $924/month in Chatham — a 106% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chatham has cheaper rent, Barre actually has lower median home values ($313,100 vs $1,550,000).

Median household income in Barre is $55,625 compared to $82,269 in Chatham (-32.4%). The higher salaries in Chatham partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Barre spend roughly 41.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.5% in Chatham. The Chatham ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.3°F vs 50.9°F). Chatham receives more rainfall at 45.2" per year compared to 42.2" in Barre.