Compare towns

Douglas vs Mendon 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).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureDouglasMendonSutton
People
Population
9,207
6,325Lowest
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
44.1±4.4
10% above MA
44.3±2.5Highest
11% above MA
Sutton and Mendon 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%
22.8%±6.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Mendon and Douglas 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%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Sutton and Douglas 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%
46.9%
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
6.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Mendon 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
$132,256±$33kLowest
27% above 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±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$616,000±$37kHighest
10% above MA
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,840±$196Highest
4% above MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
Mendon 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
$7,213Highest
20% above MA
$6,763
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
Mendon and Sutton 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%
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.9%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1985
21 yrs newer than MA
1981Lowest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
30 min
4% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
15.1%±5.7Lowest
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 #210 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Mendon-Upton 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

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.