What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k 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	Middleborough
People
Population	2,239Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Sutton and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough and Sutton 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%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Middleborough 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.	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Sutton and Middleborough 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.	$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.
	Middleborough 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.	$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Middleborough 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	—	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Middleborough
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.3Highest
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.