Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Barre vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Ogunquit | Barre | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,379Lowest |
5,572Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Barre 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Barre 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 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. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.