Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainfield vs Pomfret vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 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 | Ayer | Plainfield | Pomfret | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,317 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Pomfret 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Pomfret School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.