Compare towns
Ayer vs Danielson vs Pomfret vs Plainville
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 (21.6%).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Plainville has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Danielson | Pomfret | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
4,209Lowest |
4,317 |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±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+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 | — | #39 of 149 in CT | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Pomfret School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.