Compare towns
Boxford 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
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Boxford | Douglas | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Boxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Boxford 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 | #34 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Douglas | Sutton |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Douglas High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
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.