Compare towns
Hopedale vs Barre vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Hopedale | Barre | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,360Lowest |
5,572 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 4% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Barre and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hopedale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±4.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hopedale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,909±$18kHighest 4% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Hopedale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$44k 24% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
| Ayer and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$233Highest about the MA average |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest about the MA average |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.3%±31.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 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 | #125 of 282 in MA | #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 | 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.