What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).

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	Brookline	Sutton
People
Population	63,266Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% 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	46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%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	27 minLowest 7% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Sutton
High school in town	Brookline High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	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.