Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Barre | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
5,572 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Barre 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 MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Barre and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Ayer and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.