Compare towns
Sutton vs Lee vs Douglas vs Grafton
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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Douglas | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
5,719Lowest |
9,207 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 42% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA |
| 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 13% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Lee | Douglas | Grafton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Lee Middle/High School | Douglas High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.2 |
7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 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.