Compare towns
Ayer vs Millbury vs Thompson
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 the most people working from home (21.6%).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
13,961Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Millbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Millbury 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 |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below 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. |
$5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Millbury | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.3 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.