Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainfield vs Windsor
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 people working from home (26.2%).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Windsor 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±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— |
| Ayer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Plainfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.