What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).

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	Methuen
People
Population	9,452Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen 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 MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton and Methuen 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%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen 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	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
	Sutton and Methuen 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	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 13% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Methuen
High school in town	Sutton High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	13.1Highest
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.