Compare towns
Sutton vs Jay vs Douglas vs Oxford
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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
471Lowest |
9,207 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest 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. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% 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% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest 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% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 82% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10k 29% 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% 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. |
— | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% 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% |
82.8%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. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Douglas | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.