What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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	Oakham
People
Population	9,452Highest	1,639Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	49±2.3Highest 23% above MA
	Oakham 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%	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Oakham 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%	21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Oakham 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%	40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sutton and Oakham 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	$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA	$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA
	Sutton and Oakham 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	$4,103Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Oakham 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	39 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 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.