What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).

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	Chelsea	Sutton
People
Population	39,908Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Chelsea and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Chelsea and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,179±$8kLowest 31% below MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$493,500±$24kLowest 12% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
	Sutton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chelsea and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#280 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelsea	Sutton
High school in town	Chelsea High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.