Compare towns
Lancaster vs Suffield vs Sutton vs Windsor Locks
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%).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Suffield | Sutton | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
15,702Highest |
9,452 |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| 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 65% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | Suffield School District | Sutton | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Sutton High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
12.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.