Compare towns
Sutton vs Dedham vs Oxford vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Dedham | Oxford | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
25,237Highest |
13,385 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Dedham 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Dedham 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 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Oxford | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Oxford High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.