Compare towns
Plainville vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Salisbury | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
9,281 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% 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±$35k 15% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Salisbury and Plainville 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 |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Plainville and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Highest 11% below MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 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% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Triton | 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 Our Story | 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.