Compare towns
Upton vs Ayer vs Colebrook vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Millis has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Upton | Ayer | Colebrook | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
8,645 |
1,494Lowest |
8,888Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Millis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Colebrook School District | Millis |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.5Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.