Compare towns
Sutton vs Amesbury vs Putnam vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Amesbury | Putnam | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
17,403Highest |
9,292 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Amesbury | Putnam School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Amesbury High | Putnam High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.9 |
9.5 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.