Compare towns
Barre vs Bow vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Bow | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
8,335Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Barre 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Bow 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 33% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Bow and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Shirley 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Bow School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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| 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.