Compare towns
Sutton vs Bridgewater vs Douglas vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Bridgewater | Douglas | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,658Lowest |
9,207 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
55.9±4.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
37%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$159,365±$5kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater 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. |
$693,000±$75kHighest 108% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,467±$233 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Bridgewater 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. |
$6,869Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±43Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Sutton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bridgewater 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 | Regional School District 12 | 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 |
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.