Compare towns
Sutton vs North Hampton vs Douglas 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
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | North Hampton | Douglas | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
4,543Lowest |
9,207 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 82% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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 57% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Hampton 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | North Hampton School District | Douglas | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.