Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Wayne 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Upton | Wayne | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,101Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Wayne 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 38 | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.