Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Townsend
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,572Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Barre and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ayer 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%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Townsend 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±$13k 4% above MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Barre 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Ayer and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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 MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Quabbin Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.