Compare towns
Sutton vs Worcester vs Douglas vs Grafton
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 homeowners (89.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Worcester | Douglas | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
831Lowest |
9,207 |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Grafton 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Sutton 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Douglas | Grafton |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.