What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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.

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

Measure	Belmont	Sutton
People
Population	27,175Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Sutton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Belmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA	$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Belmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	31.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#3 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Belmont	Sutton
High school in town	Belmont High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	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.