What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).

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	Petersham
People
Population	2,239Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersham 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%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Petersham 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.	$110,750±$20kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Sutton and Petersham 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.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Petersham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
	Petersham 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.	$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Petersham 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%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%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.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Petersham
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.