Compare towns
Sutton vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452 |
15,080Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% 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. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Oyster River Coop School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.