Compare towns
Douglas vs Bedford vs Sutton
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 most affordable homes ($471k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Bedford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
23,746Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kLowest 82% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Sutton 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Bedford School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Bedford High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.