Compare towns
Ayer vs Brewster vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Brewster has the most expensive homes ($708k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Brewster | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,420Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,329Highest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Brewster 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Brewster | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.