Compare towns
Millis vs Ayer vs Wrentham vs Sutton
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 highest household income ($156k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wrentham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Wrentham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888 |
8,645Lowest |
12,297Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Wrentham and Millis 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wrentham 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%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Millis 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Millis and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Wrentham and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Sutton 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%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 |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Ayer Shirley School District | King Philip · Wrentham | Sutton |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | King Philip Regional High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.5 |
13.5Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.