Compare towns
Plainville vs Epping vs Cumberland 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%).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Epping | Cumberland | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
7,430Lowest |
36,820Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #18 of 38 in RI | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Epping School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Cumberland High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.