Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sutton vs Dedham
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Sutton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Lancaster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Dedham 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Sutton | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.