What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sutton	Ayer
People
Population	2,239Lowest	3,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±5.3Highest 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+	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.	$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S.
	Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	—
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.