Compare towns
Croydon vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the most affordable homes ($317k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Croydon | Lancaster | Sutton | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Grantham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 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+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grantham and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% 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 | $317,300±$33kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% 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 | $991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest 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 | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 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 | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Croydon School District | Nashoba | Sutton | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.