What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Royalston has the most affordable homes ($346k 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	Royalston
People
Population	9,452Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA	47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA
	Royalston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4%
	Royalston and Sutton 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%	20.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Royalston 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%	28.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Royalston 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	$102,109±$8kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$346,300±$18kLowest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA
	Royalston 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	$3,196Lowest 47% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Royalston 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%	11.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	96%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	38 minHighest 32% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Sutton	Athol-Royalston
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.