Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sterling vs Webster 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%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sterling | Webster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,183Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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 |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% 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 |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Wachusett | Webster | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
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.