Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Worcester 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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723Lowest |
207,055Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% 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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer 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±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Devens and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below 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% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | South High Community | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.