Compare towns
Sutton vs Hanson vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Hanson | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
10,660 |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Lunenburg 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 42% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,401Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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 MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Lunenburg 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.