Compare towns
Sutton vs Lancaster vs Union 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%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Union | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,606 |
944Lowest |
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. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24%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%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% 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. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
— | $1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Lancaster 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% |
5.7% 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% |
92.9%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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% 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% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | Union 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.