Compare towns
Shirley vs Upton 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
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Shirley | Upton | Sutton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 14% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 39% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.