What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac
People
Population	9,452Highest	6,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA
	Merrimac 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%	16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Merrimac 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%	26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Merrimac 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%	41%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Merrimac 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	$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Sutton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA	$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average
	Merrimac and Sutton 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	$1,352±$325Highest 23% below MA
	Merrimac 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	$7,399Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Merrimac 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 MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Pentucket
High school in town	Sutton High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.