Compare towns
Ayer vs Plainville vs West Boylston
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%).
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,943Highest |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
| West Boylston and Plainville 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% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Plainville 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% |
41.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$104,551±$12kHighest about the MA average |
| West Boylston 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 |
$440,000±$24kLowest 22% 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±$180 20% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$6,115Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Ayer 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% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5Lowest 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 | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville | West Boylston |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.