Compare towns
Douglas vs Avon vs Sutton vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Avon has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Douglas | Avon | Sutton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
4,774Lowest |
9,452Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Douglas 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 89% above U.S. |
$130,625±$33k 62% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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 | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$509,600±$62k 53% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Avon and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,627 112% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #212 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Avon | Sutton | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Avon Middle High School | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.4 |
12.6Highest |
7.9 |
| 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.