Compare towns
Douglas vs Wellesley vs Sutton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
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 | Wellesley | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
30,347Highest |
9,452 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% 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% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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% |
15.5%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| 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 | 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.