Compare towns
Ayer vs Sterling vs Plainville
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%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,183Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Sterling 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±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Sterling and Plainville 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 |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Sterling 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% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| 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.