Compare towns
Lancaster vs Needham vs Leominster vs Sutton
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Needham | Leominster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
32,459 |
43,909Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.3±2.2 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Leominster 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Leominster 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Leominster 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 30% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,354±$50 23% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Needham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,256Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Needham | Leominster | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Leominster High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
10.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.