Compare towns
Ayer vs Acton vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Acton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
24,155Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Acton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Acton-Boxborough | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.