Compare towns
Ayer vs Millis vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
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 | Ayer | Millis | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
8,888Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Millis 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Millis | Triton |
| High school in town | — | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.