Compare towns
Douglas vs Brookline 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Brookline | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
5,736Lowest |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%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. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
57.7%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% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Webster 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. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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 6% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Webster 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% |
0.6%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% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 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. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Brookline School District | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
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.