Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Webster vs West Bridgewater
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Webster | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Sutton and Webster 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and West Bridgewater 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$15k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$123,406±$23k 19% above MA |
| Sutton and West Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$503,800±$47k 10% below MA |
| Sutton and West Bridgewater 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,921±$320Highest 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,471 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Bridgewater 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | Webster | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.6 |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.