What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Sutton
People
Population	11,861Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kLowest 82% above U.S.
	Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kLowest 57% above U.S.
	Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.	$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 120 in NH	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Sutton
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.