Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton vs Devens vs Abington
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 most affordable homes ($363k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Abington has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Devens | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
2,239 |
1,723Lowest |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens 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% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Abington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Abington 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. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$125,400±$12k 55% above U.S. |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$539,600±$34k 62% above U.S. |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,724±$250Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Abington 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$7,045 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | — | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | — | Abington |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | — | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.