What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ayer	Plainville
People
Population	8,645Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Plainville 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%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville 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±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Highest 62% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.