Compare towns
Whitman vs Sutton vs Lancaster vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k 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 | Whitman | Sutton | Lancaster | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,295Highest |
9,452 |
8,606Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Lancaster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Nashoba | Millbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.