Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Stoneham 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 the most renters (41.9% rent).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Stoneham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723Lowest |
23,355Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 28% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Stoneham and Devens 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 |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Stoneham and Devens 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 |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Stoneham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | Stoneham High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
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.