Compare towns
Ayer vs Webster vs Sutton vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,452 |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Plainville 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Sutton and Plainville 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 |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Webster | Sutton | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.6 |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.