Compare towns
Wrentham vs Ayer vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has the highest household income ($152k).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Wrentham | Ayer | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Wrentham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest 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+ | 55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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 | $151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373Highest 23% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.