Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Ayer | Barre | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
5,572 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Danvers and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Danvers 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.