Compare towns
Shirley vs Suffield vs Barre vs Townsend
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%).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Barre | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976 |
15,702Highest |
5,572Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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 | $122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% 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 | $427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% 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 | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% 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 | $5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Suffield School District | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
12.9 |
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.