Compare towns
Charlton 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
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Charlton | Plainfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435 |
15,141Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Charlton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617 48% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 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 | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Plainfield School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
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.