Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ayer 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
8,645 |
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 |
39.4±5.9Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Ayer 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% |
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% |
3.7%±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±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above 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±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Ayer and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% 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% |
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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.