Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Ashland 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Upton | Ashland | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
18,873Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashland 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Upton 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 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Ashland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
| Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
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 |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashland | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Ashland High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.