Compare towns
Ayer vs Lyndeborough vs Sutton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Lyndeborough | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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 26% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Lyndeborough 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.