Compare towns
Barre vs Needham vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($394k median).
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 | Needham | Needham | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #134 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Needham | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.