Compare towns
Sutton vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Millbury | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,682Lowest |
13,961Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Millbury 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Millbury 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$450,100±$19k 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. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% 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. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older 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. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #202 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Millbury | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Gorham High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.3 |
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| 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.