Compare towns
Brookline vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Brookline | Douglas | Sutton | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.6±10.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$89,946±$10k 11% 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 | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$221,800±$57kLowest 33% 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 | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,306±$285 8% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Douglas | Sutton | — |
| High school 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 | 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.