Compare towns
Ayer vs Georgetown 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%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Georgetown | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
8,474Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Georgetown 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% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown 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% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Sutton 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 |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Georgetown 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 |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown 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 MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Georgetown | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Georgetown High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
9.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.