Compare towns

Douglas vs Whitman 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

MeasureDouglasWhitmanSutton
People
Population
9,207Lowest
15,295Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
40.4±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
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%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Douglas and Whitman 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%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
31.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Whitman 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
46% above MA
$108,933±$14kLowest
5% above MA
$147,125±$25k
42% above MA
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±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$472,700±$12k
16% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,771±$151Highest
about the MA average
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
Whitman and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
6% above MA
$5,824Lowest
about the MA average
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±13.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
Whitman and Sutton 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%
7.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
71.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
16% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
10.8%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
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 #191 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Whitman-Hanson 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 History 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.