Compare towns
Douglas vs Sutton vs Mapleton vs Hanson
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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Sutton | Mapleton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
9,452 |
1,884Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hanson 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Mapleton 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Douglas 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Sutton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.6 |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.