Compare towns
Lancaster vs Jackson vs Sutton vs Bolton
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
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 | Jackson | Sutton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
897Lowest |
9,452Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Jackson 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. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jackson 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. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Jackson School District | 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 |
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.