What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 57).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Shelburne	Sutton
People
Population	1,567Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA	$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA
	Sutton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Lowest 23% below MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.7%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Shelburne 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	—	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	Sutton
High school in town	None in town	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.6
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.