Compare towns
Sutton vs Topsfield vs Douglas 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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Topsfield | Douglas | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,564Lowest |
9,207 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 42% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Topsfield | Douglas | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.