Compare towns
Ayer vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,758Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.