Compare towns
Athol vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% 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.
| Measure | Athol | Douglas | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below 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 | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% 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 | $1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.