Compare towns
Douglas vs Reading vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Reading | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
25,612Highest |
9,452 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest 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%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Webster 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Reading and Douglas 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Reading and Douglas 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Reading | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Reading Memorial High | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.1 |
12.6Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.