Compare towns
Berkley vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Berkley | Douglas | Sutton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest 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 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% 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 | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Sutton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Douglas | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.