Compare towns
Ayer vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville vs Millbury
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%).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainville | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
12,579 |
17,551Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Millbury 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Millbury 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millbury 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Millbury 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±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Millbury 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 |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ayer 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.