Compare towns
Sutton vs Chaplin vs Lancaster vs Oxford
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 highest household income ($147k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Lancaster | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,070Lowest |
8,606 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Chaplin 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Oxford 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Nashoba | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
| 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.