Compare towns
Bolton vs Lancaster vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
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 | Bolton | Lancaster | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
8,606 |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.