Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Plainville vs Blackstone
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Dunstable | Plainville | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
3,408Lowest |
9,943Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Blackstone 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% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$15k about the MA average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Plainville | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.