Compare towns
Sutton vs Bow vs Millis 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%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Bow | Millis | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,888 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Millis 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Millis 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9k 93% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Bow and Millis 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. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Millis 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$9,344 200% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Millis 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #63 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Bow School District | Millis | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bow High School | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.