Compare towns
Plainville vs Kittery 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%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Kittery | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
10,473Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
46%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% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Ayer 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Kittery 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. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Kittery Public Schools | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.