Compare towns
Ayer vs Millbury vs Pepperell
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%).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Millbury | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
13,961Highest |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Pepperell 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below 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±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Ayer and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
| Millbury and Ayer 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 |
$5,406 10% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Millbury | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| 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.