Compare towns
Ayer vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville
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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainville has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,292 |
12,579Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| 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±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% 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 |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District | Windsor Locks School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Putnam High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.