Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Plainville vs Blackstone
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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Sutton | Plainville | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,452 |
9,943Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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±$15k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| Sutton and Plainville 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Plainville 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | Plainville | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.6 |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.