What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Derby
People
Population	9,452Lowest	12,487Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Derby 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%	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Derby 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%	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby 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 82% above U.S.	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average
	Derby and Sutton 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.	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby 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 U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Sutton	Derby School District
High school in town	Sutton High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	9.7Lowest
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.