What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the oldest population (median age 44.3).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	9,452Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Sutton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.
	Sutton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham 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%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Sutton	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Sutton High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.