Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Saugus 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Saugus | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
28,773Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Upton and Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas 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 |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Saugus and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Saugus 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 |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Saugus and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older 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 |
30 min about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Saugus | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Saugus High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2 |
15.5Highest |
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.