Compare towns
Ayer vs Preston vs Plainfield
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%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Preston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
4,821Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Preston and Ayer 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Plainfield 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Preston 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±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Preston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Preston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.