Compare towns
Devens vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Devens | Plainfield | Putnam | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,292 |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
| Devens and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.