Compare towns
Erving vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Erving | Lancaster | Sutton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% 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 | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Nashoba | Sutton | Gateway |
| 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 |
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.