Compare towns

Lancaster vs Sutton vs West Warwick

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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
West Warwick has the most affordable homes ($331k 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.

MeasureLancasterSuttonWest Warwick
People
Population
8,606Lowest
9,452
31,173Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
42.8±1.5Lowest
10% above U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster 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%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±2.3Lowest
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%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
West Warwick 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%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
West Warwick 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
67% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$77,608±$7kLowest
4% below U.S.
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.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$330,800±$12kLowest
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.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,303±$74
8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$4,962Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Sutton 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±2Lowest
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 #105 of 282 in MA #33 of 38 in RI
School district Nashoba Sutton West Warwick
High school in town None in town Sutton High School West Warwick High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.