Compare towns
Ayer vs Thompson vs Sutton vs Shirley
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 the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Thompson | Sutton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,337 |
9,452Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Shirley 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Shirley 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Thompson School District | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.