Compare towns
Devens vs Sutton vs Plainfield 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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Sutton | Plainfield | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,452 |
15,141Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% 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 | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.