Compare towns
Washington vs Sutton vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Washington | Sutton | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
9,452Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Sutton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,558 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Washington 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 | — |
| School district | Washington School District | Sutton | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.