Compare towns
Lancaster vs Stratham vs Sutton vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Stratham | Sutton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
7,754 |
9,452Highest |
6,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Stratham 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 67% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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 56% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Sutton | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.