Compare towns
Sutton vs Scituate vs Northbridge 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).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Scituate | Northbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,517 |
16,458Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Scituate 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. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% 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±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Scituate 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #226 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Scituate | Northbridge | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Scituate High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.