Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs Salem
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,943 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Plainville and Salem 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% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| 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±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Plainville and Salem 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 |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville | Salem |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.