Compare towns
Douglas vs Bedford vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
23,746Highest |
9,452 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Webster 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% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below 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±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% 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 | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older 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. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Bedford School District | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Bedford High School | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.6 |
11.6 |
| 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.