Compare towns
Avon vs Hampden vs Barre
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%).
Hampden has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Barre has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Hampden | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
4,946 |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Hampden 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 MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Barre 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% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 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 |
$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$107,727±$13k 4% above 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 |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% 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 |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Barre and Avon 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Hampden-Wilbraham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.