Compare towns
Ayer vs Jericho vs Plainville vs Blackstone
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).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Jericho | Plainville | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,114Lowest |
9,943Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone 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% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Jericho 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% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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. |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Jericho 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. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Jericho 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. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Blackstone 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jericho and Ayer 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #102 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Plainville | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.0 |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.