Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett vs Worcester 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%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Everett | Worcester | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
50,045 |
207,055Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.6±3.1Highest 7% above MA |
| Millbury and Ayer 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Ayer 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Millbury 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | South High Community | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.1 |
14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.