Compare towns
Plainville vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
32,459Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| 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%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Needham | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.