Compare towns
Avon vs Holbrook vs Ware 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%).
Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Holbrook | Ware | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
11,380Highest |
10,048 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Barre and Ware 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% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Holbrook 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% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Avon and Holbrook 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 |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Avon and Holbrook 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 |
$1,094±$423 38% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Avon and Holbrook 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 |
$6,105 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Holbrook 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Holbrook | Ware | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Holbrook Middle High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
12.9 |
| 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.