What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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	Sutton	Ashland
People
Population	9,452Lowest	18,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
	Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA
	Sutton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA	$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA	$7,444Highest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Ashland
High school in town	Sutton High School	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	14.0Highest
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.