Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Sutton vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Pepperell | Sutton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
11,663Highest |
9,452 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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±$29k 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.