Compare towns
Lancaster vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Shirley | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,976Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 30% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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 |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District | 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 Our Story | 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.