Compare towns
Belvidere vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Bakersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
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 | Belvidere | Douglas | Sutton | Bakersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
1,109 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belvidere and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bakersfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$271,300±$19k 18% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327 15% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,823Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | Sutton | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.