What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has the most affordable homes ($284k median).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	Searsmont	Sutton
People
Population	1,646Lowest	2,239Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S.	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.
	Sutton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Searsmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.
	Sutton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kLowest 15% below U.S.	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.
	Sutton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S.	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Searsmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Searsmont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.