Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ayer vs Putnam vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Plainfield | Ayer | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
8,645 |
9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Ayer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Sterling 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.