Compare towns
Sutton vs Lancaster vs Colebrook vs Wilbraham
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Colebrook | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,606 |
1,494Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Wilbraham 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Wilbraham 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,211Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Wilbraham 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Nashoba | Colebrook School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.2Highest |
| 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.