Compare towns
Douglas vs Sutton vs Waterville
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
9,452Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
32.1%Lowest 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% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Waterville 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. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below 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. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton 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. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Waterville 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% 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% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Douglas | Sutton | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | 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 |
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.