Compare towns
Douglas vs Sutton vs Mapleton 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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
9,452 |
1,884Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% 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. |
42.4±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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Mapleton 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% 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% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Sutton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| 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.