Compare towns
Sutton vs Lancaster vs Exeter vs Sturbridge
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Lancaster | Exeter | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Exeter 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sturbridge 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Exeter 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Exeter 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 12.1 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.