Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Sutton vs Douglas vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Lunenburg | Sutton | Douglas | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
9,452 |
9,207 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% 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 | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Sutton | Douglas | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Sutton High School | Douglas High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.6 |
7.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.