What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).

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	Arlington	Sutton
People
Population	46,350Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Sutton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Arlington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Arlington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA	$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Arlington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,082±$76Highest 18% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Highest 60% above MA	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Arlington	Sutton
High school in town	Arlington High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.