Compare towns
Sutton vs Bedford 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
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Sutton | Bedford | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
23,746Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford 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 82% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Bedford 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bedford School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.