Compare towns
Barre vs Ayer vs Oakham
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 most affordable homes ($394k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Barre | Ayer | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572 |
8,645Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest 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+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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 | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% 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 | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% 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 | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest 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 | 8.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.