Compare towns
Sutton vs Hanson vs Stafford 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).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Hanson | Stafford | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,660 |
11,511Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Stafford 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Stafford 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Lancaster 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% 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±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hanson 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,131Lowest 65% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Lancaster 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Stafford School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stafford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.