Compare towns
Sutton vs Hampton vs Thompson 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).
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Hampton | Thompson | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,647Lowest |
9,337 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Thompson 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Hampton School District | Thompson School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.