Compare towns
Plainville vs Bedford vs Ayer
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%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Bedford | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
23,746Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bedford 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Ayer 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% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Bedford 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% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Ayer 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bedford and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Plainville 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Ayer 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Bedford School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 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.