Compare towns
Barre vs Ware vs Windsor vs Shirley
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).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Windsor | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
10,048Highest |
1,065Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Windsor and Shirley 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Shirley 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% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 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% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Windsor 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 |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$427,600±$36kHighest 24% below MA |
| 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±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— | $1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ware | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.