Compare towns
Temple vs Sutton vs Ayer vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Temple | Sutton | Ayer | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,645 |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 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+ | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest 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 | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.5Lowest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.