Compare towns
Avon vs Barre vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
5,572 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 6% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Avon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Avon and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Quabbin | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.9 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.