Compare towns
Sutton vs Durham 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Sturbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,080Highest |
9,960 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% 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. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest 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% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% 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% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%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% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer 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. |
19 minLowest 27% 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Oyster River Coop School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oyster River High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.3 |
7.7 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.