What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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	Nahant
People
Population	9,452Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Nahant 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	$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA	$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average
	Nahant and Sutton 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	$6,615Lowest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.5%±17.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Nahant 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older 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%	18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Nahant 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	#129 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Nahant
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.