Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sutton vs Plainville vs Phillipston
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Phillipston has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Plainville | Phillipston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
9,452 |
17,551Highest |
1,895Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.8±1.7 25% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Phillipston 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainville 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% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$94,692±$14k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$372,400±$27k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
| Phillipston 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Brookfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.