What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

Sutton has the most expensive 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	Columbia	Sutton
People
Population	5,300Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Columbia and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,000±$30kLowest 57% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
	Sutton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sutton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,228Lowest 68% above U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#114 of 149 in CT	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Columbia School District	Sutton
High school in town	None in town	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.