Compare towns
Mashpee vs Ayer vs Barnstable Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barnstable Town has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Mashpee | Ayer | Barnstable Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,384 |
8,645Lowest |
49,568Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±1.9 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Barnstable Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$91,982±$6kLowest 12% below MA |
| Ayer and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $562,200±$29k about the MA average |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$602,500±$14kHighest 7% above MA |
| Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,776±$330 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,917±$127Highest 9% above MA |
| Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,975 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Barnstable Town and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Mashpee 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #189 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mashpee | Ayer Shirley School District | Barnstable |
| High school in town | Mashpee Middle-High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Barnstable High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.