Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton vs Sutton vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 39.2).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Hampton | Sutton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,647Lowest |
9,452 |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Plainville 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Plainville 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 26% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Plainville 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 |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hampton School District | Sutton | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.