What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Sutton	Ayer
People
Population	2,239Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Ayer 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%	14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest 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.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest 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.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest 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%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest 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	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.