What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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	Peabody
People
Population	2,239Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Sutton and Peabody 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%	18.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Peabody 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peabody 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%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Peabody 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.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Sutton and Peabody 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.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
	Peabody 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.	$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peabody 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%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Peabody 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	—	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Peabody
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	10.3Lowest
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.