Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs Shirley vs Townsend
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Epping | Shirley | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
7,430 |
6,976 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Epping and Townsend 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Shirley 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Epping School District | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.