Compare towns
Sutton vs Mapleton vs Hanson 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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 | Mapleton | Hanson | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,884Lowest |
10,660Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Hanson 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Hanson 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% 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. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Whitman-Hanson | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.