Compare towns
Plainville vs Ayer vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% 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 | Plainville | Ayer | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
8,645Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,449Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.5 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.