Compare towns
Ayer vs Millbury vs Raynham
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%).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Raynham has the most expensive homes ($524k 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 | Millbury | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
13,961 |
15,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
42.9±1.5Highest 7% above MA |
| Raynham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Raynham 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% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Raynham 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% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest 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±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Raynham 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 |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Raynham 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 |
$5,406 10% below MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Millbury | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town |
| 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.