Compare towns
Douglas vs Ayer vs Webster vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Douglas | Ayer | Webster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,645Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Webster | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
11.6 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.