Compare towns
Sutton vs Winchester vs Douglas 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 most homeowners (89.7%).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Winchester | Douglas | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
10,284Highest |
9,207 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Winchester 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% 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±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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. |
$4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Winchester 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Douglas | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.7 |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.