Compare towns
Ayer vs Stow vs Upton 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%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Stow | Upton | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
7,165Lowest |
8,189 |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Upton and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Stow and Upton 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 |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Upton 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.