Compare towns
Ayer vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Putnam | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
9,292Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Barre and Putnam 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Putnam 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Barre 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
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.