What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Orford
People
Population	2,239Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH
	Orford 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 NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Orford 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 NH: 40.6%	44%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford and Sutton 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 32% above NH	$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH
	Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH	$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH
	Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 15% above NH	$5,836Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Orford 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 NH: 7.2%	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 8 yrs older than NH	1971 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.