Compare towns
Douglas vs Lancaster vs Millbury vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Douglas | Lancaster | Millbury | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,606Lowest |
13,961Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$118,790±$13kLowest 14% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Nashoba | Millbury | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.