Compare towns
Ayer vs Fall River vs Lawrence 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%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
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 | Fall River | Lawrence | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.6±3.1Highest 7% above MA |
| Millbury and Fall River 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% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% 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±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Ayer and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Lawrence and Millbury 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 |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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.