Compare towns

Auburn vs Lancaster vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% 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.

MeasureAuburnLancasterSutton
People
Population
6,119Lowest
8,606
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
90% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kLowest
67% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kLowest
56% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822
34% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
Lancaster and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092Highest
159% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$6,763Lowest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Auburn 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 #44 of 120 in NH #145 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Auburn School District Nashoba Sutton
High school in town None in town None in town Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.