Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampton vs Harvard 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 renters (14.9% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Hampton | Harvard | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,647Lowest |
6,927 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sutton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Harvard 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. |
$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District | Harvard | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.