Compare towns
Ayer vs Ledyard 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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Plainville has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Blackstone has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Ledyard | Plainville | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
15,433Highest |
9,943 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Blackstone 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Blackstone 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% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ledyard 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. |
$107,975±$10kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Ledyard 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. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34k 22% 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,629±$247 15% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Ledyard 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. |
$6,371Highest 104% 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% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Ledyard 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% |
5.7%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% |
82.7%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. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 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. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #102 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ledyard School District | Plainville | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ledyard High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.5Lowest |
— | 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.