What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has the most expensive homes ($451k median).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	Bellingham	Sutton
People
Population	17,410Highest	2,239Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bellingham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,307±$10kLowest 55% above U.S.	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.
	Sutton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S.	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Bellingham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S.	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bellingham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bellingham 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	#232 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Bellingham	Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	10.4Lowest
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.