Compare towns
Plainville vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
8,606Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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 15% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Plainville 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Nashoba | 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 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.