Compare towns
Paxton vs Exeter vs Sutton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Paxton | Exeter | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,452 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above 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 | $472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 129% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.