Compare towns
Ayer vs Nashua 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 people working from home (19.8%).
Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).
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 | Nashua | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
91,294Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest 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% |
18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Nashua 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% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Nashua 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% |
41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Nashua 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. |
$96,326±$5k 19% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre and Nashua 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. |
$403,900±$11k 21% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Nashua 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. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,799Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Nashua 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Nashua 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashua School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Nashua High School South | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.