Compare towns
Sutton vs Shirley 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 highest household income ($147k).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,976Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Sutton 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 42% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | 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 Our Story | 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.