Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Ware vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ware | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
5,572 |
10,048Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Barre and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Ayer and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
| Hatfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Ware | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1 |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.