Compare towns

Chittenden 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

Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).

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.

MeasureChittendenLancasterSutton
People
Population
1,318Lowest
8,606
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±6.3Highest
31% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Chittenden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
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+
21.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chittenden and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,250±$28kLowest
32% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above 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
$346,800±$35kLowest
4% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above 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
$1,125±$488Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,346Lowest
71% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.8%±55.7Lowest
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
6.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
15%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
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 — #145 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Barstow Unified Union School District #49 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.