Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Mendon vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Hampton | Lancaster | Mendon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
8,606 |
6,325 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% 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 | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.