Compare towns
Sutton vs Dover vs Millbury vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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 | Dover | Millbury | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,308Lowest |
13,961Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Millbury 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 42% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$118,790±$13kLowest 14% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
— | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Millbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Millbury | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.