Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mendon vs Temple 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%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Mendon | Temple | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,325 |
1,363Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Temple 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Sutton 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Sutton 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. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above 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. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Contoocook Valley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.