Compare towns
Sutton vs Wakefield vs Dedham 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%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Wakefield | Dedham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
27,793Highest |
25,237 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 42% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| 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±$47k 7% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.7 |
— | 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.