Compare towns
Ayer vs Suffield 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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Suffield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
15,702Highest |
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. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Suffield 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. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Ayer 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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 3% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
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.