Compare towns
Plainville vs Ayer vs Northbridge vs Cumberland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Plainville | Ayer | Northbridge | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
8,645Lowest |
16,458 |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Plainville | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
10.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.