Compare towns
Ayer vs Exeter 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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Exeter | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% 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±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.