Compare towns
Conway vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Conway | Douglas | Sutton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Conway and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Conway and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% 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 | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% 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 | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Conway and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797 3% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Sutton 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 | Conway | Douglas | Sutton | Whately |
| 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.