Compare towns
Millbury vs Ayer vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the most homeowners (75.4%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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.
| Measure | Millbury | Ayer | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
8,645Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Millbury 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Northbridge 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% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Millbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 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 | $1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% 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 |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Ayer Shirley School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.