Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,943Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Plainville and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$476,000±$35kHighest 15% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| 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±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Plainville and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.