Compare towns
Plainville vs Stow 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%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Stow | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
7,165Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Stow 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
| Plainville and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 11% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Nashoba | 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.