What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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	Bethlehem
People
Population	9,452Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Sutton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Sutton 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Sutton	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Sutton High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	8.9Lowest
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.