Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Stoughton 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).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Stoughton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
29,225Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%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 |
45.7±1.9 14% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Upton and Stoughton 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% |
18.5%±1.9Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Upton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton 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 |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
$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±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Upton and Stoughton 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 |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Stoughton 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% 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% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest 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 | #196 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoughton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Stoughton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.8Lowest |
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| 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.