Compare towns
Millbury vs Ogunquit vs Ayer vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Ayer | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
1,379Lowest |
8,645 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| 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 73% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.