Compare towns

Sutton vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.

MeasureSuttonWillistonLancaster
People
Population
9,452
10,144Highest
8,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williston 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%
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston 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±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above 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.
$475,800±$40kLowest
43% above 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±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Lancaster and Williston 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.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Lowest
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 #11 of 70 in VT #145 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Nashoba
High school in town Sutton High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.