Compare towns
Lancaster vs Bourne vs Sutton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Lancaster | Bourne | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
20,323Highest |
9,452 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above 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 | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Bourne and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.