Compare towns
Plainville vs Freeport 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%).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Freeport | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
8,802 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport 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% |
59.6%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% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Plainville 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. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | RSU 05 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.