What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

Sutton has the most affordable 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	Northborough	Sutton
People
Population	15,750Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3Highest 13% above MA	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA	$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,983Highest 33% above MA	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.1%±16.3Highest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Northborough 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	#35 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro	Sutton
High school in town	Algonquin Regional High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	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.