Compare towns
Barre vs Brookline 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 renters (24.2% rent).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Brookline | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
531Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Brookline 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% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Brookline 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.