Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanson vs Dunstable 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 the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Hanson | Dunstable | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,660Highest |
3,408Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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 46% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| 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 6% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 12.6 |
| 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.