Compare towns
Sutton vs Whitman vs Millbury 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 expensive homes ($523k median).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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 | Whitman | Millbury | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,295Highest |
13,961 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Sutton 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 MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Millbury | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.3 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.