Compare towns
Avon vs Newfields 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%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Newfields | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774 |
2,023Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Newfields 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 62% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 53% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 112% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,163Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avon and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Newfields School District | 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 History | 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.