Compare towns
Avon vs Windsor Locks 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 the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
12,579Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Avon and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Barre 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Windsor Locks High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
8.9Lowest |
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.