Compare towns
Sutton vs Nelson vs Douglas vs Wilbraham
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wilbraham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
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 | Nelson | Douglas | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
648Lowest |
9,207 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Wilbraham 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Wilbraham 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Wilbraham 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Nelson 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Nelson School District | Douglas | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.