What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Boylston	Sutton
People
Population	4,948Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Boylston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kLowest 36% above MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
	Boylston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#72 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Sutton
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.6Highest
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.