Compare towns
Plainville vs Ayer vs Northbridge vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 most affordable homes ($449k median).
Lunenburg has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
8,645Lowest |
16,458Highest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Northbridge and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA |
| Lunenburg 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 15% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 11% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
10.8Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.