Compare towns
Sutton vs Whitman vs Putnam vs Douglas
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).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Putnam | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,295Highest |
9,292 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Putnam 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% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 82% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% 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. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Douglas 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. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Putnam School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.5 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.