Compare towns
Lancaster vs Exeter vs Sutton vs Leominster
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k 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 | Exeter | Sutton | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
16,151 |
9,452 |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.3±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 67% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$83,816±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$380,400±$14kLowest 14% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,354±$50 4% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,256Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.