Compare towns
Ayer vs Douglas vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Douglas | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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 | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Douglas High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.