What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Norwell	Sutton
People
Population	11,361Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA	$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Norwell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norwell and Sutton 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	#80 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Sutton
High school in town	Norwell High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.6Highest
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.