Compare towns
Sutton vs Newton 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Newton | Lancaster | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
89,044Highest |
8,606 |
8,474Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Newton 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% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Newton 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% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
| Newton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Newton | Nashoba | Georgetown |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Newton North High | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.8 |
— | 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.