Compare towns
Carmel vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Newburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Newburgh has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Carmel | Lancaster | Sutton | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
1,475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newburgh and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$244,600±$20kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 10% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$950±$219Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$2,748 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | 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 | 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.