Compare towns
Plainville vs Ogunquit vs Gray 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Ogunquit | Gray | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,429 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%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% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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 29% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 43% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Plainville 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% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 282 in MA | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.