Compare towns
Barre vs Ayer vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Barre | Ayer | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
3,098Lowest |
9,255Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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 | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Ayer and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Ayer and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Blackstone 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | — | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | — | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.