Compare towns
Grafton 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
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Grafton | Plainfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
15,141 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,300±$37kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$169Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton 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 | #67 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Plainfield School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.