Compare towns
Douglas vs Ayer vs Hanson vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Ayer | Hanson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,645Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$132,200±$10k 27% 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 | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% 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 |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
14.7Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.