What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

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	Rochester	Sutton
People
Population	5,837Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±6Highest 16% above MA	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	Sutton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
	Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,432±$743Highest 19% below MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Rochester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,530Lowest 9% above MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 25% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#104 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester	Sutton
High school in town	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	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.