What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bellingham has the most expensive homes ($451k 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	Bellingham
People
Population	2,239Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bellingham 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%	14.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Bellingham 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%	40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Bellingham 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.	$125,307±$10kLowest 55% above U.S.
	Sutton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$450,700±$13kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.	$1,836±$196Highest 30% above U.S.
	Bellingham and Sutton 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.	$5,030Lowest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bellingham 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%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bellingham and Sutton 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	—	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Bellingham
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.4Highest
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.