Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sutton vs Plainfield vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Brookfield | Sutton | Plainfield | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
9,452 |
15,141Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Brookfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$95,613±$12k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$354,000±$21k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Plainfield 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,260 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and West Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Sutton | Plainfield School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.