Compare towns
Barre vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Thompson | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,337Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shirley and Barre 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Thompson School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.