Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs Raynham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Raynham has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Plainville | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,943 |
15,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| Plainville and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Raynham and Ayer 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Raynham 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% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Raynham 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±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Raynham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
| Plainville and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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 MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.