Compare towns
Douglas vs Stratham 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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Stratham | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,754Lowest |
9,452 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% 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. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%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% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% 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. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Stratham 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. |
$9,781Highest 214% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Sutton 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% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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. |
27 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% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 | 6 photos → | 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.