Compare towns
Sutton vs Sunapee vs Sturbridge 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).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sunapee | Sturbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
3,416Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% 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. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Sunapee School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.9 |
7.7Lowest |
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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.