Compare towns
Sutton vs Ashfield vs Douglas vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Ashfield | Douglas | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,893Lowest |
9,207 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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 42% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% 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 | $523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% 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 | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Sutton 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mohawk Trail | Douglas | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
7.7 |
| 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.