Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Ogunquit 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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Devens | Ogunquit | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723 |
1,379Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Devens 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 7% below U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ogunquit 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. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Devens 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 |
| School district | — | — | — | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.