Compare towns
Harvard vs Barre vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Harvard | Barre | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
5,572Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 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+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 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 | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.