Compare towns
Leverett vs Lancaster vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering LeverettAmherst Town
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leverett has the oldest population (median age 56).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Leverett | Lancaster | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,608Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,688±$18k about the MA average |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
| Lancaster and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
| Lancaster and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,672±$151 5% below MA |
| Lancaster and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,779 13% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±5 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Leverett 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 | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leverett | Nashoba | Sunderland |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.