Compare towns
Avon vs Needham vs Barre vs Townsend
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 youngest population (median age 37.5).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
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 | Needham | Barre | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,572 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Barre and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Avon 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Needham | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Needham High | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.9 |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.