What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leicester has the most affordable homes ($413k median).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Leicester	Sutton
People
Population	11,113Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.5Lowest 6% above MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Sutton and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,173±$9kLowest about the MA average	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$23kLowest 27% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Leicester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,452Lowest 26% below MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr 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	13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#222 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Leicester	Sutton
High school in town	Leicester High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	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.