Compare towns
Lancaster vs Princeton 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%).
Princeton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Princeton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
3,529Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Princeton and Sutton 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% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Sutton 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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 |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Princeton 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 |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Princeton 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 |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% 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 |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Wachusett | 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 |
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.