Compare towns
Brewster vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Brewster | Lancaster | Sutton | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,994Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±15.4 43% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±6.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.6%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Brewster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,214±$38k 9% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $858,100±$205kHighest 53% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Brewster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$554 28% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,892Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±26.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Sutton | Nahant |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.