Compare towns
Douglas vs Ashby vs Sutton vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Douglas | Ashby | Sutton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,211Lowest |
9,452 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% 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 | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton 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 |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.