Compare towns
Ayer vs Sunderland 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%).
Sunderland has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
3,641Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
42.6±3.1Highest 7% above MA |
| Millbury and Ayer 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% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Sunderland 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% |
62.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Ayer and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,672±$151Highest 5% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Sunderland 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 |
$5,611Highest 6% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Sunderland 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 | #220 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sunderland | 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 |
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.