What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Ayer
People
Population	5,572Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Barre and Ayer 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%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Barre 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%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Barre and Ayer 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%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest 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	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Barre and Ayer 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	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
	Ayer and Barre 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	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 14% below MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest 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	8.2%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest 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	#134 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.