What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Petersham
People
Population	9,452Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Petersham 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	$110,750±$20kLowest 7% above MA
	Sutton and Petersham 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	$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA
	Petersham 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	$4,636Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton and Petersham 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%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older 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%	16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sutton and Petersham 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	—
School district	Sutton	Petersham
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.