Compare towns
Sutton vs Mapleton vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,884Lowest |
9,337 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Sutton 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sutton 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson 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% |
5.9% 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% |
84.3% 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. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thompson School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.