Compare towns
Douglas vs Upton vs Williston vs Sutton
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 the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Upton | Williston | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,189Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Williston 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.2 |
— | 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.