Compare towns
Hamden vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Hamden | Plainfield | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
15,141 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k 22% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 10% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784 150% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Plainfield School District | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.