Compare towns
Ayer vs Amesbury 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 the most people working from home (21.6%).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Amesbury | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
17,403Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±1.7Highest 9% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Amesbury and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Ayer 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% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Amesbury 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% |
44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Ayer 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 |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Amesbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Amesbury 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 |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Amesbury | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Amesbury High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.