Compare towns
Ayer vs Millis vs Sturbridge
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%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Millis | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
8,888 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Millis and Sturbridge 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 |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Millis 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Sturbridge 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.7 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.