Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens 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).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Devens | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Devens and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Ayer 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Devens and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.