What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has the highest household income ($156k).

Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).

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	Millis	Ayer
People
Population	8,888Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA
	Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,344Highest 56% above MA	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Millis 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	#63 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Millis	—
High school in town	Millis High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
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.