Compare towns
Sutton vs Dorset vs Douglas vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% 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 | Dorset | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,092Lowest |
9,207 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Douglas 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Northbridge 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. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Sutton 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. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Dorset 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. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Northbridge 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.