What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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	Saugus
People
Population	2,239Lowest	28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Sutton and Saugus 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%	15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Saugus 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%	22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saugus 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%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saugus 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 61% above U.S.	$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Sutton and Saugus 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.	$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Lowest 17% above U.S.	$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S.
	Saugus 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.	$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saugus 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.5%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.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton and Saugus 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	—	#194 of 282 in MA
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Saugus
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	15.5Highest
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.