What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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	Charlton
People
Population	9,452Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton 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%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Charlton 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%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA
	Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton and Sutton 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	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Charlton 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%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Sutton High School	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.