Compare towns
Ayer vs Northbridge vs Sutton vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Northbridge | Sutton | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge 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±$17k 28% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 30% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Sutton | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
12.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.