Compare towns
Sutton vs Windham 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Windham | Douglas | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
16,038Highest |
9,207 |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Douglas 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windham 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% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Windham School District | Douglas | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Windham High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.8Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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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.