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.
| Measure | Auburn | Lancaster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.

