Compare towns

Sutton vs Central Falls vs Douglas vs Wilbraham

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).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureSuttonCentral FallsDouglasWilbraham
People
Population
9,452
22,701Highest
9,207Lowest
14,572
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
32.5±2.3Lowest
16% below U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
44.3±2.7Highest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Central Falls and Wilbraham 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%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±3.4Highest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
51.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.8
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.
$49,285±$8kLowest
39% below U.S.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$122,051±$14k
51% above U.S.
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
57% above U.S.
$352,100±$30kLowest
6% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$416,000±$25k
25% above U.S.
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
16% below U.S.
$1,200±$75
15% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,175±$241Lowest
17% below U.S.
Douglas and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,744Lowest
20% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$6,658
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
56.7%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±23.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Central Falls and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
24.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
25.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±3.1
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 #38 of 38 in RI #177 of 282 in MA #88 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning Douglas Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town Sutton High School Central Falls Sr High Douglas High School Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
14.6Highest
7.2Lowest
14.2
On TownTapestry
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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.