Compare towns

Douglas vs Plympton vs Sutton

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%).
Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

MeasureDouglasPlymptonSutton
People
Population
9,207
2,935Lowest
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
46.4±4.2Highest
16% above MA
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
Plympton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Plympton 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
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
Plympton 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%
MA: 47.3%
38.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
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
46% above MA
$126,736±$20kLowest
22% above MA
$147,125±$25k
42% 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±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$517,800±$52k
8% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
Sutton and Plympton 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
$555±$148Lowest
69% below MA
$1,190±$401
32% below MA
Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$6,628
11% above MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.8%±40.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
Plympton 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%
10.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1981Lowest
17 yrs newer than MA
1981Lowest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
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 #110 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Plympton 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

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.