Compare towns
Sutton vs Everett vs Sturbridge vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Everett | Sturbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
50,045Highest |
9,960 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Douglas 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Everett and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Everett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Everett High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.1 |
7.7 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.