Compare towns
Sutton vs Walpole vs Douglas vs Sturbridge
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).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Walpole | Douglas | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,690Lowest |
9,207 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Sturbridge 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% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% 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. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,078Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Sutton 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Douglas | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
7.7 |
| 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.