Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainfield vs West Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
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 | Plainfield | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
616Lowest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Plainfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$15k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$123,406±$23kHighest 19% above MA |
| West Bridgewater 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 17% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$503,800±$47kHighest 10% below MA |
| West Bridgewater 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 20% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,921±$320Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,471Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Bridgewater and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | 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 |
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.