Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett 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 people working from home (21.6%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Everett | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
50,045Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Ayer 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
| Everett and Plainville 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,329Highest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.