Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Chilmark vs Douglas
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
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 | Upton | Chilmark | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,578Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Chilmark and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Chilmark and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Chilmark 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Up-Island Regional | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.