Compare towns
Sutton vs Camden 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
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Camden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Camden | Lancaster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
5,242Lowest |
8,606 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Camden 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% |
18.4%±5.6Lowest 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% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest 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% |
3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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. |
$82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27k 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$520,600±$70k 56% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,269±$354 10% 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. |
$5,832Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 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. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
21.3%±8.8 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 | #11 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | 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.