Compare towns
Sutton vs Dunbarton vs Millbury 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 highest household income ($147k).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% rent).
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 | Dunbarton | Millbury | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,097Lowest |
13,961Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Millbury and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Millbury 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millbury 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. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13kLowest 47% 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,406Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dunbarton School District | Millbury | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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 |
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.