Compare towns
Ayer vs Milford vs Upton 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Milford | Upton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
30,431Highest |
8,189 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 28% below MA |
$96,365±$4k 7% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$476,700±$12k 15% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,869 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #213 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Milford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Milford High | Blackstone Valley | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
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.