Compare towns
Ayer vs Barre vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Ayer | Barre | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
5,572 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Ayer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Sutton |
| High school in town | — | Quabbin Regional High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.