Compare towns
Douglas vs Sutton vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Sutton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
9,452Highest |
3,098Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Ayer 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.