Compare towns
Sutton vs Middlesex vs Worcester 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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Sutton 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.