Compare towns
Sutton vs Pomfret vs Douglas vs Northbridge
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).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Pomfret | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,317Lowest |
9,207 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret 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% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Pomfret 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% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret 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. |
$108,476±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Pomfret 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Northbridge 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Pomfret School District | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.