Compare towns
Sutton vs Orange 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
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Orange | Lancaster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
14,315 |
8,606Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Orange and Sutton 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% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%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% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange 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±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Orange 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. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% 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. |
$2,172±$161 54% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orange 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. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Nashoba | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | 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.