Compare towns
Douglas vs Hatfield vs Webster 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 kids (21.2% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hatfield | Webster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,325Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Webster 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% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$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 |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% 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 |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Hatfield 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hatfield | Webster | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Smith Academy | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
6.1Lowest |
11.6 |
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.