Compare towns
Barre vs Williston 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 affordable homes ($394k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Williston | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
10,144Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Shirley 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Williston and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.