Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Plainville vs West Bridgewater
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
West Bridgewater has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Ogunquit | Plainville | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,379Lowest |
9,943Highest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| West Bridgewater and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$503,800±$47k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,921±$320 36% above U.S. |
| Plainville and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$6,471Highest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and West Bridgewater 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #102 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Plainville | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | None in town | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| 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.