Compare towns
Ayer vs Barnet vs Sharon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 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 | Barnet | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,855 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Barnet 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.