Compare towns
Sutton vs Ogunquit vs Sturbridge 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Ogunquit | Sturbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
1,379Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% 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%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.