Compare towns
Sutton vs Brookfield vs Wilbraham 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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Wilbraham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
17,706Highest |
14,572 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
58.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 82% above U.S. |
$148,360±$11k 84% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Brookfield 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. |
$479,700±$24k 44% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Brookfield 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. |
$1,892±$183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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. |
$7,594Highest 143% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Brookfield School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Brookfield High School | Minnechaug Regional High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.7 |
14.2Highest |
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.