Compare towns
Sutton vs Meredith vs Sturbridge 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Meredith | Sturbridge | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
6,758Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.1 |
7.7 |
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.