Compare towns
Lancaster vs Marion vs Sutton vs Devens
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 most people working from home (33.6%).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Marion | Sutton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,310 |
9,452Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
| Marion and Devens 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% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Marion and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Marion 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Marion | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.