Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dover vs Sutton vs Leominster
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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Leominster has the most renters (37.7% rent).
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 | Dover | Sutton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,930Lowest |
9,452 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.3±2.2 8% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Leominster 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,354±$50 23% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,256Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Leominster 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.