Compare towns
Blackstone vs Ayer vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Blackstone | Ayer | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,255 |
8,645Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Blackstone and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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 | $94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$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 | $404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Ayer and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Blackstone 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Ayer Shirley School District | Millbury |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.5 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.