Compare towns
Ayer vs Raynham Center 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%).
Raynham Center has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Raynham Center | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
4,841Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
39±3.7Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Ayer 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% |
23.9%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Raynham Center 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% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
40.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$132,382±$14k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Raynham Center 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 |
$547,700±$56kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Raynham Center and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,776±$39Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
74.4%±32.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham Center and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±6Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | 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.