Compare towns

Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldPlainfieldSutton
People
Population
3,460Lowest
15,141Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,250±$37k
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23k
about the U.S. average
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,092
63% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #105 of 282 in MA
School district Brookfield Plainfield School District Sutton
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.