Compare towns
Sutton vs Harvard vs Douglas vs Oxford
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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
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 | Harvard | Douglas | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,927Lowest |
9,207 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Douglas and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Harvard | Douglas | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | The Bromfield High School | Douglas High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.0 |
7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 29 photos → | 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.