Compare towns
Uxbridge vs Ayer vs Sutton vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Uxbridge | Ayer | Sutton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,473Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,452 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836 about the MA average |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #183 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Uxbridge | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Uxbridge High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Sutton High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
11.5 |
12.6Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.