Compare towns
Brookfield 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
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Brookfield | Douglas | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest 22% 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 | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% 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 | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% 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 | $5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | 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.