Compare towns
Plainville vs Temple vs Sutton 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%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Temple | Sutton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
1,363Lowest |
9,452 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Temple and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Sutton 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% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 40% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Sutton 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Contoocook Valley School District | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.