Compare towns
Douglas vs Erving vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Erving | Northfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,703Lowest |
2,872 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Northfield 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 |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | — | #231 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Erving | Pioneer Valley | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.