Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Hampton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,647Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Ayer 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Barre 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. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hampton 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 | — | Hampton School District | 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 |
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.