Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Ayer vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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.

MeasureOgunquitAyerSutton
People
Population
1,379Lowest
8,645
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
39.2±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
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+
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ayer and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$101,875±$15kLowest
26% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
Sutton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$463,800±$29kLowest
39% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,415±$180Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
Ayer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$5,057
62% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #113 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district — Ayer Shirley School District Sutton
High school in town — Ayer Shirley Regional High School Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.