Compare towns
Lancaster vs Swampscott vs Sutton 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%).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Swampscott | Sutton | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
15,277Highest |
9,452 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Swampscott 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% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Sutton 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Swampscott 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 |
$134,386±$23kLowest 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Swampscott 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 |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Swampscott | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Swampscott High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.