Compare towns
Ayer vs Windham 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Windham School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.