Compare towns
Devens vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Devens | Lancaster | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.