Compare towns
Ayer vs Exeter vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Millbury has the most homeowners (75.4%).
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 | Exeter | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
16,151Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Exeter High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.