Compare towns
Sutton vs Durham 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Douglas | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,080Highest |
9,207Lowest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 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% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%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% |
64.4%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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Oyster River Coop School District | Douglas | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oyster River High School | Douglas High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.3 |
7.2Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.