Compare towns
Sutton vs Newfields vs Lancaster vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
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 | Newfields | Lancaster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
2,023Lowest |
8,606 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Wilbraham 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 82% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Newfields 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Newfields School District | Nashoba | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.2Highest |
| 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.