Compare towns
Heath vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Heath | Plainfield | Sutton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
616Lowest |
9,452Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Plainfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Sutton | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.