Compare towns
Plainville vs Ogunquit vs Ayer vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Ogunquit | Ayer | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
1,379Lowest |
8,645 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Ayer 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 29% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Northbridge 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Northbridge 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.