Compare towns
Ayer vs Hooksett vs Devens 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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Devens | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
15,057Highest |
1,723Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millbury and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Devens 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% above U.S. |
| Devens 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 39% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Devens 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hooksett School District | — | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | — | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | — | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.