What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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	Washburn
People
Population	9,452Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.
	Washburn 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 U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Washburn 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 U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washburn 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 U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Washburn 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 82% above U.S.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Sutton	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Sutton High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.