Compare towns
Avon vs Barre vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Avon | Barre | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
5,572 |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 6% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Barre and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
| Avon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
| Lawrence and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Avon 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 | #212 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Quabbin | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.9 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.