Compare towns
Oxford vs Sutton vs Plainfield vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Auburn has the shortest commute (26 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 | Oxford | Sutton | Plainfield | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,385 |
9,452Lowest |
15,141 |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.8±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$400,000±$16k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,467±$155Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,289 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Sutton | Plainfield School District | Auburn |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.