Compare towns
Ayer vs Coventry vs Smithfield 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
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Coventry | Smithfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
35,907Highest |
22,233 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Coventry 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Smithfield 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Coventry | Smithfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Coventry High School | Smithfield High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
11.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.