Compare towns
Sutton vs Thompson vs Hanover 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k 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 | Thompson | Hanover | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,337 |
14,845Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanover 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hanover 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hanover 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #69 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Thompson School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.