Compare towns
Shirley vs Plainville vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Shirley | Plainville | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976 |
17,551Highest |
5,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% 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 | $427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 65% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Barre 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.