Compare towns

Douglas vs Jay vs Sutton

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 the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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.

MeasureDouglasJaySutton
People
Population
9,207
471Lowest
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Jay 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
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Jay 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%
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Sutton 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.
$74,792±$25kLowest
7% below U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% 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±$29k
41% above U.S.
$234,200±$45kLowest
30% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
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
6% above U.S.
—
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
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
103% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay 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
School district Douglas Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Sutton
High school in town Douglas High School None in town Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
—
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.