What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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	Newton
People
Population	2,239Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22%	20.5%±1 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kLowest 61% above U.S.	$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.	$2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Lowest 145% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 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%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Newton
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.8Highest
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.