Compare towns
Ayer vs Mendon vs Devens 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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 | Mendon | Devens | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,325 |
1,723Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Devens and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Mendon 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% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 about the MA average |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Devens and Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Mendon and Devens 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 |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Mendon 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 |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Mendon-Upton | — | 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 |
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.