Compare towns
Ayer vs Maynard vs Millbury vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
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 | Maynard | Millbury | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,712 |
13,961Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Maynard and Blackstone 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millbury and Ayer 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
| Maynard 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 17% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone 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 MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Maynard | Millbury | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Maynard High | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.7Lowest |
11.3 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.