Compare towns

Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureAyerOgunquitSutton
People
Population
3,098
1,379Lowest
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±6.9Lowest
8% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,878±$17kLowest
7% below U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
Sutton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$444,600±$43kLowest
34% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,240±$169Highest
12% below U.S.
—
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
Ayer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,911
57% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 282 in MA — #105 of 282 in MA
School district — — Sutton
High school in town — — Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.