Compare towns
Sutton vs Westminster vs Putnam 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).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Westminster | Putnam | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
8,374Lowest |
9,292 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% 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. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% 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. |
$1,843±$268 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Westminster 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% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Putnam School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.