Compare towns
Avon vs Barre vs Needham
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 youngest population (median age 37.5).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
5,572 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Barre and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$33k 26% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Quabbin | Needham |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.