Compare towns
Douglas vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
648Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Nelson 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% 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%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson 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.