Compare towns
Barre vs Windham vs Townsend 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).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Windham | Townsend | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
594Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 27% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Windham 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.