Compare towns
Douglas vs Topsfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Topsfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,564Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Topsfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.