Compare towns
Jackson vs Lancaster vs Sugar Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Lancaster has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Sugar Hill has the highest household income ($154k).
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 | Jackson | Lancaster | Sugar Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
8,606Highest |
658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.8±2.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Sugar Hill and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.2%±12.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sugar Hill and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$154,091±$32kHighest 91% above U.S. |
| Sugar Hill and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$639,700±$50k 92% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Sugar Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,208±$630Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,340Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sugar Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Jackson 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 | — |
| School district | Jackson School District | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.