Compare towns
Barre vs Ware vs Shirley vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Ware | Shirley | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
10,048Highest |
6,976 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 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.