Compare towns
Douglas vs Meredith vs Webster 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Meredith | Webster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,758Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Webster | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1 |
11.6 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.