Compare towns
Plainville vs South Hampton 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
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | South Hampton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
984Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Hampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Ayer 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | South Hampton School District | 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 → |
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.