Compare towns
Ayer vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,023Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Ayer 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer 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%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Newfields 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.