Compare towns
Plainville vs Upton vs Wrentham 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wrentham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Wrentham | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,943 |
8,189Lowest |
12,297Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Wrentham and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Wrentham 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Wrentham 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329 11% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | King Philip · Wrentham | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | King Philip Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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.