Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham vs Plainville
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Needham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Plainville and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Needham | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.