What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).

Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Cambridge	Sutton
People
Population	118,796Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,748±$4kLowest 26% above MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,092,100±$42kHighest 94% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±2.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#122 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Cambridge	Sutton
High school in town	Cambridge Rindge and Latin	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	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.