Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks 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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Ayer 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% 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 |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.