Compare towns
Sutton vs Acton vs Northbridge vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Sutton | Acton | Northbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
24,155Highest |
16,458 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Acton-Boxborough | Northbridge | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.