Compare towns
Sutton vs Thomaston vs Lancaster vs Wilbraham
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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Thomaston | Lancaster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
7,492Lowest |
8,606 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Wilbraham 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. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% 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. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thomaston 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% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Thomaston School District | Nashoba | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Thomaston High School | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| 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.