Compare towns
Millis vs Ayer vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Millis | Ayer | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
8,645Lowest |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest 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±$9k 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Ayer 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 | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Ayer Shirley School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.