Compare towns
Sutton vs Atkinson vs Lancaster vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Sutton | Atkinson | Lancaster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
7,267Lowest |
8,606 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Douglas 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 82% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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 57% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Timberlane Regional School District | Nashoba | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.