Compare towns
Ayer vs Morris 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 the most people working from home (21.6%).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
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 | Morris | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
2,164Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| 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 |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris 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% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Morris and Millbury 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 26% above U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Morris 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. |
$396,000±$60kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above 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 |
$1,204±$134Lowest 15% 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 | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,273 69% above U.S. |
$5,406Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Morris 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Morris 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 |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Regional School District 20 | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.