Compare towns
Lancaster vs Windsor vs Sutton vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k 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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Windsor | Sutton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
29,468Highest |
9,452 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor 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. |
$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,681±$62 19% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor High School | Sutton High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.