Compare towns
Ayer vs Lynn 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%).
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Lynn | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
101,709Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% 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%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn 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% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn 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 |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% 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 |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Lynn 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 20% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Lynn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Lynn | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lynn English High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
15.0Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.