Compare towns
Ayer vs Northbridge vs Ogunquit 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).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Northbridge | Ogunquit | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
16,458Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% 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% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge | — | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.