Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Millbury vs Devens
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%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Sutton | Millbury | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,452 |
13,961Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Millbury and Devens 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | Millbury | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Sutton High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.