Compare towns
Barnet vs Ayer vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Barnet | Ayer | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
8,645Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethel and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$75,822±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,335±$220 6% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,168Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Ayer Shirley School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.