Compare towns
Ayer vs Thompson vs Warren 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 people working from home (19.8%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Thompson | Warren | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
9,337Highest |
5,009 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Barre 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Barre and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713 27% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Quaboag Regional High | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
10.0 |
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.