Compare towns
Sutton vs Weston vs Lancaster vs Sturbridge
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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Weston | Lancaster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
11,579Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.9±2.1 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Weston 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% |
26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Weston and Sturbridge 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%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Weston 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% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,085±$809 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Lancaster and Weston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Lancaster 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% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Weston 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Weston | Nashoba | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Weston High | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.9 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.