Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Windsor Locks 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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Harvard | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Windsor Locks School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.