Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Barre and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.