Compare towns
Plainville vs Hampstead 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%).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | Hampstead | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
9,102 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Hampstead 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% |
44.9%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% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Hampstead School District | 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 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.