Compare towns
Sutton vs Athol vs Douglas vs Wilbraham
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).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Athol | Douglas | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
12,011 |
9,207Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Athol 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% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Athol 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 MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Wilbraham 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 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 | $523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% 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 |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 min 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Athol-Royalston | Douglas | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Athol High | Douglas High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.6 |
7.2Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.