Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Georgetown
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 renters (41.9% rent).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
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 | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
5,572 |
8,474Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
| Barre and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Ayer 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%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Georgetown 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% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Georgetown and Ayer 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 | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Georgetown |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.