Compare towns
Ayer vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks vs Barre
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).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
15,702Highest |
12,579 |
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±6.9 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 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 |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% 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. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% 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% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
8.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.