Compare towns
Ayer vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Thompson
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 (30.8% rent).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| 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±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas | Sutton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.