Compare towns
Plainville vs Chilmark vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Chilmark | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
1,578Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Chilmark and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 11% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Up-Island Regional | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.