Compare towns
Douglas vs Plainfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Douglas | Plainfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
616Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.