Compare towns
Plainville vs Upton vs Cumberland 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Cumberland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Upton | Cumberland | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
8,189Lowest |
36,820Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.5±1.2 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Cumberland 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Upton and Cumberland 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #18 of 38 in RI | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Cumberland High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.