Compare towns
Ayer vs Williston 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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Williston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 39% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.