Compare towns
Ayer vs Paxton 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%).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Paxton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,002Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Sutton 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% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Paxton 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% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Paxton 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 |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Ayer and Paxton 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 |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Sutton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 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.