Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Barre vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Ogunquit | Barre | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
5,572 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.