What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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	Holden	Sutton
People
Population	20,064Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
	Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Holden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Holden 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	#57 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Sutton
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.