Compare towns

Sutton vs Gloucester 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Gloucester has the most renters (36.1% rent).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

MeasureSuttonGloucesterDouglas
People
Population
9,452
30,075Highest
9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
+3.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
50.2±2.3Highest
26% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
15.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Douglas and Sutton 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%
27.9%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Sutton 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
$83,883±$6kLowest
19% below 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
$600,600±$18kHighest
7% above MA
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,411±$94
20% below MA
$1,503±$697Highest
15% below MA
Douglas and Gloucester 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
$6,152Lowest
about the MA average
$6,338
6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
55.1%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Gloucester 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%
9.6%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
63.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
about the MA average
24 minLowest
18% below MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.7%±2.3Lowest
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 #164 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Gloucester Douglas
High school in town Sutton High School Gloucester High Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6Highest
10.0
7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.