Compare towns
Plainville vs Groton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Groton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
11,390Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Groton 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Groton 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% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton 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 about the MA average |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Plainville and Groton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Groton-Dunstable | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.