Compare towns
Ashfield vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most renters (14.5% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Petersham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
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.
| Measure | Ashfield | Plainfield | Sutton | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
616Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197 13% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
38 min 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Ashfield 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | — | Sutton | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.