Compare towns
Sutton vs Jay vs Douglas vs Grafton
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Jay | Douglas | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
471Lowest |
9,207 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Jay and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton 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 82% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Sutton 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. |
— | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Douglas | Grafton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.