Compare towns
Avon vs Woonsocket vs Holbrook 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%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).
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 | Woonsocket | Holbrook | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
43,521Highest |
11,380 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 4% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423 23% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avon and Holbrook 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holbrook 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #234 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Holbrook | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Woonsocket High School | Holbrook Middle High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
15.2Highest |
14.3 |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.