What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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	Hubbardston
People
Population	9,452Highest	4,371Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	46.8±9.1Highest 17% above MA
	Hubbardston 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 MA: 19.4%	17.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Hubbardston 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%	20.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hubbardston 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%	33.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hubbardston 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	$123,500±$24kLowest 19% above MA
	Sutton and Hubbardston 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	$371,600±$18kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA	$953±$206Lowest 46% below MA
	Sutton and Hubbardston 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	$4,716Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.4%±67.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hubbardston and Sutton 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%	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#128 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Quabbin
High school in town	Sutton High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6	—
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.