Compare towns
Avon vs Barre vs Springfield vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Springfield | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
5,572 |
154,749Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 6% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Barre and Blackstone 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Blackstone 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Blackstone 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% 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±$55k 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Barre 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Quabbin | Springfield | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Springfield Central High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.9 |
12.2 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.