Compare towns
Douglas vs Dorset vs Sutton vs Hanson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Dorset | Sutton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,092Lowest |
9,452 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Hanson 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Hanson 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Hanson 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. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanson 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.