Compare towns
Ayer vs Dedham vs Mansfield vs Barre
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).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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 | Mansfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,931 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above 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%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 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% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Mansfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Mansfield High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.