Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Temple
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k 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 | Sutton | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,452Highest |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Temple 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Temple 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Sutton 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | 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 |
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.