Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sutton vs Marblehead vs Bolton
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 affordable homes ($519k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Sutton | Marblehead | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,452 |
20,413Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Marblehead 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%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Marblehead 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Sutton | Marblehead | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Marblehead High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.0 |
| 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.