Compare towns
Ayer vs Reading vs Millbury
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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Reading | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
25,612Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Millbury 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Ayer 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | 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 |
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.