What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($249k 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	Sutton	Athol
People
Population	9,452Highest	8,801Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA	36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Sutton 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%	15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA	$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA
	Sutton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 13% above MA	$3,170Lowest 47% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%	21%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 10% below MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	9.7%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	—
High school 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.