What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).

Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Millbury	Ayer
People
Population	13,961Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±3.1Highest 7% above MA	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% 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	20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Lowest 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+	20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Lowest 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	$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA
	Millbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% 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	$5,406Highest 10% below MA	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Highest 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	5%Lowest MA: 10%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Millbury 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	#202 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Millbury	—
High school in town	Millbury Junior/Senior High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.