Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,943 |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.