Compare towns
Ayer vs Dedham vs Barre vs Warren
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Dedham | Barre | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
25,237Highest |
5,572 |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Barre 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Quabbin Regional High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.