Compare towns
Ayer vs Georgetown vs Plainfield
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%).
Georgetown has the highest household income ($152k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Georgetown | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,474Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
42.8±3.5Highest 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Georgetown 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Ayer 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% |
18.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Georgetown and Plainfield 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% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 26% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Georgetown and Ayer 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Georgetown | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Georgetown High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.