Compare towns
Sutton vs Cornwall Bridge vs Sharon 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%).
Cornwall Bridge has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
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 | Cornwall Bridge | Sharon | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
248Lowest |
2,723 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.4±11.4 30% above U.S. |
59.5±6Highest 53% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Cornwall Bridge 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% |
20.2%±11.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall Bridge 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% |
25%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Cornwall Bridge 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% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Sharon 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. |
— | $100,518±$15kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$371,100±$64kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$590,700±$156kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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. |
$911±$105Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sharon 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. |
$4,107Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.3%±61Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall Bridge and Lancaster 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% |
19%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±15.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Sharon School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.