Compare towns
Ayer vs Windsor Locks vs Barre vs Hatfield
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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Windsor Locks | Barre | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
12,579Highest |
5,572 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Barre and Hatfield 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Hatfield 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ayer 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% 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. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Quabbin | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
12.9Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.