Compare towns
Sutton vs Mendon vs Union 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).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Mendon | Union | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,325 |
944Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% 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. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
— | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon 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. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Mendon 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% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 14% 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% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mendon-Upton | Union School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | 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 | 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.