Compare towns

Deep River vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Beacon Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Beacon Falls has the oldest population (median age 48.4).

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.

MeasureDeep RiverLancasterSuttonBeacon Falls
People
Population
4,458Lowest
8,606
9,452Highest
6,147
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
46.2±5.6
19% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
48.4±3.8Highest
24% above U.S.
Beacon Falls and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±4.8
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+
22.1%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Beacon Falls and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Beacon Falls and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$90,253±$19kLowest
12% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$101,516±$42k
26% 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
$362,200±$26k
9% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$350,300±$34kLowest
5% 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
$1,221±$185
14% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,921±$286
36% above U.S.
Lancaster and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,092Lowest
95% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$6,534
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±22.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±30.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
15.2%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
20.3%±7.4
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 #70 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #77 of 149 in CT
School district Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Nashoba Sutton Regional School District 16
High school in town Valley Regional High School None in town Sutton High School Woodland Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
—
12.6Highest
11.2
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.