Compare towns
Sutton vs Roxbury vs Lancaster vs Douglas
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Roxbury has the most expensive homes ($715k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Roxbury | Lancaster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
2,185Lowest |
8,606 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.7±1.8Highest 41% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest 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% |
31%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Douglas 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. |
$123,864±$27kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% 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. |
$714,500±$77kHighest 115% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,713±$418 21% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Roxbury 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. |
$6,591 111% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Roxbury 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Regional School District 12 | Nashoba | Douglas |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| 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.