Compare towns
Lancaster vs North Reading 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%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | North Reading | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
15,765Highest |
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 |
43±2.8Lowest 8% 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading 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±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and North Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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 MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | North Reading | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
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.