Compare towns
Ayer vs Putnam vs Plainfield vs Devens
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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
9,292 |
15,141Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.