Compare towns
Sutton vs Marion vs Lancaster vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Marion | Lancaster | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
5,310Lowest |
8,606 |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
| Georgetown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Marion and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Marion | Nashoba | Georgetown |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.