Compare towns
Ayer vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
2,023Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%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±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 26% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Ayer 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Newfields School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.