Compare towns
Avon vs Barre vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774 |
5,572Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Newfields 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 62% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 53% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 112% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avon and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Avon | Quabbin | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.