Compare towns
Harvard vs Sutton vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Harvard | Sutton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
9,452 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Harvard | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Sutton High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.