Compare towns
Sutton vs Princeton vs Lancaster
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Princeton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Princeton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
3,529Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Princeton 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton 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% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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 42% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Princeton 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Sutton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Lancaster 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Wachusett | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.