Compare towns
Avon vs Calais vs Middlesex vs Barre
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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774 |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Calais 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 62% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Avon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Avon and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avon and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 |
| School district | Avon | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.