Compare towns
Lancaster vs Bethany 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
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Bethany | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,288Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42.5±2.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethany and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethany and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Bethany and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$418,000±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.2Lowest 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Sutton |
| High school 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 |
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.