Compare towns
Barre vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Shirley has the most homeowners (77.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
27,793Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Wakefield 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 |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Wakefield and Shirley 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 |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.