Compare towns
Barre vs Ashby vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Barre | Ashby | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
3,211Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Ashby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$6,034Highest about the MA average |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Ashby 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.