Compare towns
Douglas vs Newfields vs Sutton vs Pepperell
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Newfields | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,023Lowest |
9,452 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Pepperell 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 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 |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Newfields School District | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 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.