Compare towns
Sutton vs Auburn 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Sutton | Auburn | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,119Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Sutton 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kLowest 82% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Auburn 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. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Auburn School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.