What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bellingham has the most renters (31.2% rent).

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	Bellingham
People
Population	9,452Highest	5,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA	44±7.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Sutton and Bellingham 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Bellingham 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%	18.6%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Bellingham 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%	35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Bellingham 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	$96,763±$14kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$431,200±$23kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$2,009±$358Highest 14% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 13% above MA	$4,477Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	74.7%±25.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham 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%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	18%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Bellingham 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	#232 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.