Compare towns
Lancaster vs Newton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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 | Newton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
89,044Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| 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%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Newton 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Newton 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Newton 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Newton | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Newton North High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.