Compare towns
Sutton vs Deep River vs Sturbridge 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).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Deep River | Sturbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,458Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest 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% |
22.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Deep River and Sturbridge 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% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% 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. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Deep River 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. |
$6,092Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Deep River and Sutton 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Valley Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.3 |
7.7 |
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.