Compare towns
Sutton vs Hampton vs Sterling 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Hampton | Sterling | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 82% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 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.