Compare towns
Douglas vs Lynnfield vs Thompson 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 renters (16.2% rent).
Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Douglas | Lynnfield | Thompson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
13,064Highest |
9,337 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynnfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$175,265±$23kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Lynnfield and Douglas 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. |
$917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynnfield and Thompson 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lynnfield 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 | #27 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Lynnfield | Thompson School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Lynnfield High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.0 |
7.9 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.