Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sutton vs Webster vs Devens
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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Webster | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Webster 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Devens 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens 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±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens 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 MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Sutton | Webster | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.