Compare towns
Plainville vs Northampton 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%).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 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 | Northampton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943 |
30,962Highest |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainville and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| 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 15% below MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 11% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northampton High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
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.