Compare towns
Sutton vs Dover vs Lancaster vs Sturbridge
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Lancaster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
33,364Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sturbridge 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% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Sturbridge 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dover School District | Nashoba | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.7Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.