Compare towns
Sutton vs Preston vs Lancaster vs Oxford
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Oxford has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Preston | Lancaster | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
4,821Lowest |
8,606 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Preston 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. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% 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. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Preston 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Preston School District | Nashoba | Oxford |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.