Compare towns
Everett vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Everett | Lancaster | Sutton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Nashoba | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Sutton High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.