Compare towns
Sutton vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kLowest 66% 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Lyme 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 |
| School district | Sutton | Lyme School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.