Compare towns
Sutton vs Dunstable vs Lancaster vs Oxford
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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Dunstable | Lancaster | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,408Lowest |
8,606 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Oxford 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Oxford 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Lancaster and Dunstable 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
1.4% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Groton-Dunstable | Nashoba | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Oxford High |
| 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.