Compare towns
Webster vs Sutton vs Plainville 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
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
9,452 |
17,551 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 10% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above 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 | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | Plainville High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.6Highest |
11.4 |
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.