What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% 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	Hopedale
People
Population	9,452Highest	6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA
	Hopedale and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hopedale 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 MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale 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	$115,722±$19kLowest 11% above MA
	Sutton and Hopedale 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	$466,100±$28kLowest 17% below MA
	Sutton and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average
	Hopedale and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Hopedale 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%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Hopedale
High school in town	Sutton High School	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.