Compare towns
Webster vs Sutton vs Douglas vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Douglas | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
9,452 |
9,207Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below 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 | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% 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 | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
| Douglas and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Sutton | Douglas | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | Douglas High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.6 |
7.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.