Compare towns
Avon vs Barre vs Stoneham
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 most affordable homes ($394k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
5,572 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Barre and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Stoneham 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%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Barre 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Avon and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Stoneham 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Quabbin | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.