Compare towns
Lancaster vs Chilmark vs Sutton vs Bolton
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 renters (14.9% rent).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Bolton has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Sutton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,578Lowest |
9,452Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Chilmark and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Bolton 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 30% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Chilmark and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Up-Island Regional | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.