Compare towns
Sutton vs Hampstead vs Lancaster vs Millbury
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).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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 | Hampstead | Lancaster | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,102 |
8,606Lowest |
13,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Millbury 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% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$118,790±$13k 47% 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. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$450,100±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Hampstead 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. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,623±$232 15% 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,406Lowest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Hampstead School District | Nashoba | Millbury |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| 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.