Compare towns
Douglas vs Worcester vs Sutton vs Hanson
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 highest household income ($152k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Worcester | Sutton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,452 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3 7% 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% 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±$29k 16% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson 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 15% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | South High Community | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
14.6 |
12.6 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.