Compare towns
Sutton vs Ayer vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Sutton | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Sutton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.