What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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	Athol
People
Population	2,239Lowest	12,011Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.	$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.	$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Sutton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Athol 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	—	#256 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Athol-Royalston
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Athol High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.6Highest
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.