What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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	Northfield
People
Population	2,239Lowest	2,872Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S.	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Northfield and Sutton 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%	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Northfield 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield 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%	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Northfield 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.	$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Sutton and Northfield 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.	$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Northfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Sutton and Northfield 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.	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northfield 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%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northfield 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	—	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.7Highest
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.