Compare towns
Ayer vs Hingham vs Plainville vs Millbury
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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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 | Hingham | Plainville | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
24,283Highest |
9,943 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Hingham 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Millbury 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury 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 about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Hingham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hingham | Plainville | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hingham High | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.