Compare towns
Sutton vs Freeport vs Lancaster vs Wilbraham
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).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Freeport | Lancaster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,802 |
8,606Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Wilbraham 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% 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. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 05 | Nashoba | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Freeport High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.2Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| 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.