Compare towns

Halifax 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

Halifax has the most kids (22.2% 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.

MeasureHalifaxPlainfieldSutton
People
Population
7,748Lowest
15,141Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±4.7
8% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$118,556±$11k
47% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$481,500±$51k
45% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,804±$375Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,840Highest
119% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±37.4
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton and Halifax 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 #120 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #105 of 282 in MA
School district Halifax Plainfield School District Sutton
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
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.