Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Upton vs Ware
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Sutton | Upton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ayer 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Ware 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% 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 | $4,911 18% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.