Compare towns
Sutton vs Arlington 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Arlington has the most expensive homes ($934k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Sutton | Arlington | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
46,350Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Arlington and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest 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% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Arlington and Sutton 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 |
$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Arlington 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 |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington 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 | #29 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Arlington | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Arlington High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.