Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mansfield 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 people working from home (33.6%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
25,358Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% 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. |
$335,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% 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. |
$1,602±$104 13% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,727Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.