Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Ayer | Sutton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,239Lowest |
5,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Sutton 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 7% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.