Compare towns
Hampton vs Sutton vs Ayer vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Canterbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Hampton | Sutton | Ayer | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,645 |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.5 24% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.