Compare towns
Barre vs Exeter vs Newfields 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.