Compare towns
Middleton vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Middleton | Plainfield | Sutton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
15,141Highest |
9,452Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Plainfield School District | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.6 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.