Compare towns
Sutton vs Webster vs Woonsocket 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 highest household income ($147k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Webster | Woonsocket | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
17,748 |
43,521Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Webster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.6Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| 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.