Compare towns
Barre vs Shirley vs Sutton vs Townsend
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Shirley | Sutton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
6,976 |
9,452Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 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 |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Sutton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 12.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.