Compare towns
Ayer vs Exeter vs Warren 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Exeter | Warren | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
7,195Highest |
5,009 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Barre 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 12% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,530Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #165 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter-West Greenwich | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Quaboag Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.