What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).

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	Townshend
People
Population	2,239Highest	1,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend 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%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Townshend 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.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sutton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Sutton and Townshend 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.	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Sutton and Townshend 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.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend 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%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	8.1Lowest
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.