Compare towns
Sutton vs Dorset vs Lancaster vs Wilbraham
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).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Dorset | Lancaster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,092Lowest |
8,606 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Wilbraham 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% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Dorset 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Nashoba | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.2Highest |
| 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.