Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Millbury vs Blackstone
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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Ogunquit | Millbury | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,379Lowest |
13,961Highest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone and Millbury 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #202 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Millbury | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.