Compare towns
Ayer vs Clinton vs Upton 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%).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Clinton | Upton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
15,563Highest |
8,189Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Millbury 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% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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±$15k about the MA average |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Upton and Millbury 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 |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Clinton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Clinton Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.