Compare towns
Lancaster vs Windham vs Sutton
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Windham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Windham 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 67% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 56% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windham 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% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Windham School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.