Compare towns
Plainville vs Townsend vs Upton 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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Townsend | Upton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943Highest |
9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Upton 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 about the MA average |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Plainville and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.