Compare towns
Sutton vs Dover vs Chilmark vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Dover | Chilmark | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
5,930 |
1,578Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 42% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Dover and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | — | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Up-Island Regional | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.8Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.