Compare towns
Sutton vs Douglas vs Burke vs Wheelock
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Douglas | Burke | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
9,207Highest |
1,317 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.1±4.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Burke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$87,143±$17k 8% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$340,600±$18k about the U.S. average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
— |
| Douglas and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,177 66% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke and Wheelock 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Douglas | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— | — |
| 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.