Compare towns
Adams vs Douglas vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Adams | Douglas | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Adams and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% 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 | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% 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 | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Douglas | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.