Compare towns
Abington vs Ayer vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Abington | Ayer | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Abington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Abington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Abington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Abington High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.5 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.