What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Lowell	Sutton
People
Population	118,368Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Lowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Sutton
High school in town	Lowell High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.