Compare towns
Mendon vs Sutton vs Plainfield vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mendon | Sutton | Plainfield | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
9,452 |
15,141Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southampton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$123,125±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$452,300±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,470 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Plainfield School District | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.