Compare towns
Townsend vs Sutton vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Townsend | Sutton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
9,452Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% 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 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% 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 | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Douglas |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Sutton High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.6 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.