Compare towns
Douglas vs Halifax vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Halifax | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,748Lowest |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Halifax 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% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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 |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Halifax and Douglas 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Halifax | 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 Our Story | 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.