Compare towns
Douglas vs North Smithfield 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%).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | North Smithfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
12,708Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Sutton 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% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Sutton 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% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and North Smithfield 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. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% 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. |
$457,200±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$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. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Douglas and North Smithfield 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. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Smithfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | North Smitfield HS | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.1 |
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.