Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Barre vs Devens
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).
Dunstable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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 | Dunstable | Barre | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
3,408 |
5,572Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% 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%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Ayer 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% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Dunstable and Devens 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 |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Dunstable 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 |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| Devens and Dunstable 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Groton-Dunstable | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.