What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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	Hampden
People
Population	9,452Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Hampden 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%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden 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.	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Sutton and Hampden 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.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.
	Hampden 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.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Hampden 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%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Sutton	RSU 22
High school in town	Sutton High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	14.8Highest
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.