Compare towns
Sutton vs Halifax vs Wilbraham 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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Halifax | Wilbraham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
847Lowest |
14,572Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Halifax 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 82% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Sutton 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Halifax School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.