Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Wilbraham 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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Wilbraham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,372Lowest |
14,572Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest 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. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% 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. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above 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 | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Strafford School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 14.2Highest |
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.